| Greek trademarks are registered with the United | | | | throughout the United States and Canada. |
| States Patent and Trademark Office by the each | | | | To be an officially licensed manufacturer or |
| organization to protect the integrity and | | | | retailer and distribute products and services such |
| ownership of their respected property including | | | | as Fraternity & Sorority merchandise, a company |
| their crests, coats of arms, organization name | | | | must first be approved by the specific |
| and Greek letters as well as any other insignia | | | | organizations to whom the trademarks are used. |
| specific to the organization. The actual National or | | | | Licensed vendors must adhere to strict guidelines |
| International organization holds exclusive | | | | set forth to assure that products utilize the official |
| trademark rights and not an individual member | | | | colors and logos of each participating Greek |
| within the Fraternity or Sorority. A common | | | | organization in the manner they were indented. |
| misconception is that some individuals feel that | | | | For this privilege, licensed vendors pay royalties to |
| because they are a member of said group, they | | | | the respective organization for the right to |
| have the rights to use trademarked property for | | | | appropriately use their trademarks. These royalty |
| their own use. This is incorrect. | | | | payments assist the organizations in funding |
| In the late 80's, college Fraternal organizations | | | | scholarships, programming and exceptional |
| began the process of banding together to develop | | | | services to their membership. |
| a system to help protect their names and have | | | | Educating the membership on the merits of |
| control over what is being distributed to their | | | | Greek Licensing and instructing them to purchase |
| members. This movement to support the growth | | | | products from only licensed vendors is paramount |
| of the Greek community and protect their image, | | | | to the success of all parties involved. The Greek |
| reputation, as well as their fundamental mission | | | | community firmly opposes any product or design |
| was the birth of today's Greek Licensing program. | | | | that attempts to glorify alcohol, hazing, sexism, |
| The goal of Greek Licensing is to provide a | | | | racism or any other image that conflicts with |
| diversity of high quality products and services at a | | | | each organization's mission statement. Each |
| reasonable price while helping maintain the | | | | member of the organization has the responsibility |
| consistent use of trademarks and certain quality | | | | to adhere to their group's regulations regarding |
| control standards. | | | | licensing and at the same time help police the |
| For the past decade, Affinity Marketing | | | | industry for trademark infringement. Students |
| Consultants (AMC) administers the use of | | | | should and act locally by holding each other |
| trademarks for some of North America's largest | | | | accountable to purchase products only from a |
| Fraternity and Sorority organizations. AMC | | | | licensed vendors and globally to insure that their |
| currently represents 71 Greek organizations and | | | | group's future reputation and branding message is |
| honorary societies which comprise of more than | | | | sound. |
| 330,000 students and over 5 million households | | | | |