Stomp the Yard

[AKA2D '91]

Date: November 25, 2006

To: The Members of the Council of Presidents

From: Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.
General President - AÖA

Re: Rainforest Productions, Sony Pictures, et¢al
Stomp the Yard

To Whom It May Concern:

Please know that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. does not endorse the film Stomp the Yard. The Fraternity prefers not to be associated with a movie that juxtaposes gang activity with that of black greek life. The Fraternity, through its general counsel, made a direct request to the film's producers to not include any trademarks of the Fraternity in their film. The producers ignored that request and included the Fraternity's trademarks in the film without permission. Their act of defiance is illegal and will be addressed through the proper legal channels. To that end, the Fraternity has requested that Sony pictures and Rainforest productions cease and desist from distribution of this movie due to the unauthorized use of Alpha's trademarks.

The Fraternity owns a family of trademarks that include Federal registration numbers 2227381, 2218329, 2770575, 2481901, 2178342, 1459737, 1459736 and 1459735. The Fraternity has at least ten additional applications for registration currently pending before the United States Patent and Trademark office. The majority of these trademarks have been in use since as early as 1906, the year of the founding of the Fraternity. All of these marks are rigorously protected by the Fraternity.

It is truly unfortunate that the Fraternity has to divert its attention to this matter during this its centennial year. However, the fraternity will protect its legacy and its future and we respectfully request that you not contribute to the illegal acts of the producers of this film by paying money to view it or by promoting it.