I believe they are contacting MTV to let them know that she is no longer a member and requesting that our letters be blocked out in all future episodes that are aired.

SmartBlondeGPhB is a Gamma Phi bigwig compared to me and may know more about the situation.

We do have methods of reactivating your membership if you resigned from the sorority in good standing, so if Johanna is really interesting in becoming a Gamma Phi Beta again, that is certainly something she could consider pursuing.

Just curious, but is it possible that this chic was a member of this org while taping the show, and then resigned the letters. If my memory serves me correctly, these shows are taped about 18 to 24 months before they reach the air. So if she resigned in 2004 she may have been legit in wearing the letters.

Also, as MTV is a third party to any agreement between G Phi B and Jo, how could they be forced to incur the expense of blurring letters in EVERY episode? In order for that to happen, would some relationship have to exist between the network and the National Office.

Obviously.

You're welcome. :)

Bring in the violins, Johnny. :p

I was filmed between January and June of 2005.

They can't be forced. If the shirt violated FCC rules (such as having one of the banned words) they would have to do so.

However-- if the sorority's international headquarters contacted the show producer and nicely requested that the shirt be blurred, it would be a good gesture on the part of MTV to agree... but it is totally optional on their part.

The expense to do this is very low. Since the industry standard is now non-linear editing, all one has to do is call up the master on the digital editing machine (most likely, it's an Avid edit system) open up the scene and insert a digital special effect.

It would take a producer to screen the tapes and gather the time codes, and an editor to make the changes. Very easy and inexpensive to do.

But again, MTV would be under no legal obligation. It would be more of a favor.

copyrighting letters
 

it's my understanding that our actual letters (anyone's) are not able to be copyrighted. our symbols (such as crest or mascot) can be copyrighted. but, having just the greek letters on a shirt can mean anything. it can be the name of a sorority, religious cult or anything else if it is JUST the letters. If the letters themselves could be copyrighted, it would mean that anyone can put any letters from the alphabet on something and say that it is copyrighted.

now, if the shirt had letters AND a crest or other official symbol, that would propbably be a different story. that's part of the reason why our HQ can't go after every mom and pop store that sells stuff with our letters on it. for example, i could make all the stuff i wanted with the letters NFL on it. however, if i start making stuff with footballs, using the official font or logos, then i can get in trouble for copyright infringement. If i make a pink letter shirt with NFL and white bunnies, it don't mean squat and the NFL cannot come after me. Since what our letters actually mean is secret, of course it will never be printed on a shirt. And since spelling out Alpha is not a meaningful word, it's just the pronunciation of the greek letter, it is not copryightable either.

i still think it is crap that she is wearing that shirt and leading people to believe that is a member. but, it's not illegal and I'm not sure that HQ can force or require MTV to blur them out. Other logos/brands can legally require they be blurred b/c they are copyrighted or trademarked. The non-greek letter orgs (FarmHouse, Acacia, etc) may be able to do that. Not sure though. Anyways.....just my 2 cents on the copyright issue.

From now on, whenever I see a girl on the street who is wearing my letters and I know she isn't an active member, I'm going to tear her letters off her and starting throwing a tantrum. And then I'm going to call MTV and demand that they make sure that my letters are never on a Real World cast member ever again, and they better do it cause I said so :)

Re: copyrighting letters
 

From the Phi Mu national website...

Did you know that our name, Phi Mu, is a registered trademark? The majority of Greek organizations have taken steps to register their respective names and insignia as official trademarks. In short, a trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies goods or services and distinguishes them from others. Phi Mu Fraternity owns the rights to our trademarks, making it unlawful for anyone to use them without permission, just like a university or a company, such as Coca Cola™ has rights to their trademarks.

Phi Mu owns the following trademarks:

Phi Mu
FM
Phi Mu crest
Phi Mu badge

Awesome. I think MTV could actually develop that into a reality series. "So You Think You're a Sorority Girl?"

:D

How is that when the show aired in June of 2005?

Ditto.

I had several friends deactivate my senior year for a variety of reasons. I think most of them gave back their badges.

I don't think we had ever ask them to not wear our letters on campus -- none of them were dorky enough to do that. So, I think I would have felt pretty stupid showing up at their place asking for all their greek t-shirts back and automatically assuming that they would wear them all over campus.

If they wanted to sit around in their party favor scrubs on the weekend, I didn't take take offense to that. I thought: that's their favorite pair of scrubs, they like them because they are comfortable, not because they have some letters on them.

That's a fabulous idea! :D Sadly enough, MTV would probably do something like that. I guess after one ripped letters off the other, they could battle it out, then either hate each other, or make up and become "sisters"

It may be different now, but when the Real World was filmed in San Francisco, they were finishing up with the production (filming and editing) when the early episodes were first aired.

Excellent deduction, Watson. :rolleyes:

well, i'm not afraid to admit when i am wrong, or at least when i am given wrong information. What i posted was given to me from what i thought was a reliable source and i swear i did not make it up! thank's for the information about Phi Mu. I did a search and came up with some things.

here's a link that leads to more information about trademarks:

http://www.greeklicensing.com/resources_licensing.asp

one thing i learned: trademark applies to logo/deisgn type things (which does include letters, although it didn't say anything about non-english letters) and copyright applies to written works (the def includes music, movies, books/papers/etc).

Oooooh Oooooh....kinda like that game show "Friend or Foe" where Kennedy was the host (I've seen it on Game Show Network).

:p
PsychTau

Precisely. And after they finish beating each other with their monogrammed Vera totes, one will finish the other off by dumping a LV bag full of MAC lip glass* over the other one's head.

Then they'll get in their jammies and have a pillow fight.

You know... just like in real life!

DISCLAIMER: * MAC Lip Glass is trademarked! Anyone who denounces MAC may not wear MAC Lip Glass in public ever again, lest those wearers who respect the M-A-C feel disrespected!

another disclaimer: this is a parody

How about Make up Art Cosmetics? Is that trademarked too or is it acceptable to misuse that?

Wow, this thread is drama...

Your second circumstance is closer to the actual reasoning for Johanna wearing her letters on air than your first circumstance. She is not on bad terms with the Delta Lambda chapter, however, I do not know what her terms are with IH. If they have a problem with her wearing her letters on air, they will do what they can, as GeekyPenguin mentioned. And as someone else mentioned, MTV does blur out a lot of logos, including Greek letters in some cases, so I wouldn't be surprised if future airings or re-airings blur out her letters.

Although I am not 100% in the know of Johanna's reasoning behind terminating her membership, I do know that was not for grades/dues reasons. While a member, she was an excellent sister and a leader for the chapter. Like everyone else, she has her drawbacks and her imperfections, but it does not make her any less of a person.

Back to your arguments... this has been an entertaining break at work. :rolleyes:

Nope. It is a punishable offense to misuse said words--- it carries a stiff fine and probation of up to two years... during which time you may only wear drug store cosmetics and not dare show your face within 15 yards of a MAC counter.

And don't go sniffing around Sephora, either! If you diss MAC, you may not consider becoming a member of Sephora's preferred customer mailing list!!! Don't even think about it! No Jessica Simpson Dessert for you!


:D

well, if nothing else this thread has enlightened us even more on some of the differences between the NPC and NPHC, and that is not a bad thing.

What GP has said is correct and other than that what we are or are not doing in regards to this issue is our business.

I don't know how they do it, and maybe they stopped filming in May. But, I live in Austin so I know that it was filmed this spring... and not in 2004 as someone suggested.

Not really.

As has already been said, the entire media release is in our forum. According to that, the termination was not just on her side.

If anyone has any further questions or concerns contact the people listed in the release. There is no Gamma Phi here on Greekchat who is in a position to publicly say anything else on this matter.

With an emphasis on "if nothing else."

You have to love the conflict started by reality TV... and again, I ask what happened to music videos on "Music Televison?"

The fact that this topic has spawned three forums with over 26 pages of dialogue answers the overall question "Is it important to relinquish all aspects of your affiliation with your organization or else be accused of misrepresenting said organization once you choose to 'depledge' or are removed?"

All of the people who stating that it doesn't matter who wears their letters are deluding themselves. The fact that one momentary glimpse of this girl on TV with this shirt on led to this much discussion shows the impact and power of clothing or objects representing these organizations.

The same show showing a boy wearing a Lakers shirt or Nike shoes obviously doesn't have anywhere near as large an impact (short of MTV not wanting to advertise for those companies and blurring their logos out) But it is in nowhere near the same scale, and you that brought up these anlogies know this.

Always remember, "Membership has it's priviledges."-American Express

sorry repeat

On an unrelated Greek Note
 

http://www.kappaalphaorder.org/ka_jo...lworld_ace.asp

Ace from previous shows is a KA and is building a restuarant in the big ole college town of Carrollton, home of the University of West Georgia.:D

Oh, come on. Johanna's cute, she hasn't done anything to disgrace Gamma Phi... I mean, I understand y'alls point, but it could be worse.


Can we get back to the original thread, now? What's up with everyone getting along this season and being so mature? I mean, I like the show, but it seems like they didn't cast like they normally do (i.e. for conflict). Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this.

Oops. Sorry. I still don't think it's cool to be bashing the poor girl.

May be true...but if you put yourself on mtv...you're kinda asking for it

exactly, you put yourself into the public spotlight on a show where you know what you're getting into, you are a public figure. And when you're no longer a member of a group and are wearing their letters, you should know people will have a problem with it.

Sorry, no sympathy for people who go on any reality show, especially Real World.

I think they've given up casting for conflict and changed it to casting for maximim hookup potential. As someone pointed out, it's turned into Elimidate instead of the Real World.

LOL. but for real, what happened to the REAL people...like from the first seasons. people with real problems and didn't all look like actors and models.

They also had REAL jobs in the early years-- not the contrived "here-- you're going to direct your own documentary" or "here-- you're going to work for a radio station" type thing.

There was also one roommate on one of the earlier programs who was going to med school.

It's more interesting when you get people of different backgrounds-- like Julie -- whose Mormon faith was put to the test..

The show really went down hill with the Las Vegas cast. It seems they are only looking for people who are heavy drinkers and partyiers. That bores me. I just am not interested anymore.