Sigma Theta Alpha
 

Hello to all. We are a new Fraternity at the University of Missouri Saint Louis. I would like to ad that we have not gained official status from our University yet, but are optimistic about doing so this Semester. Further details will follow in subsequent posts, and we are always willing to take suggestions and advice from brotherhoods and sisterhoods who are familiar with the perils of forming a new greek organization.

Are you social, professional, service or something else? Do you specialize in a particular Major or other similar field. Are you all-male or co-ed?

Are you certain that you have the right to use those letters? There is already an organization with that name at UConn:

Sigma Theta Alpha

You don't want to go to a lot of work & expense developing the organization, only to find out that the name is already copyrighted & protected.

Copyright isn't the issue. The issue is Trademarks. And there are no trademarks registered for Sigma Theta Alpha (For that matter the only trademarks with the "Sigma Theta" string are Delta Sigma Theta and Sigma Theta Tau.

Go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp and then click Search Trademarks and then Basic Word Mark Search (New User) . (I'm not giving direct URL since it assigns a session) You probably want "Result Must Contain" : Exact Search Phrase.

Found some surprises. The Greek Letter Organization with the most hits I've found is Alpha Kappa Alpha, and to my great surprise, there is nothing for Gamma Sigma Sigma...