Paraphenalia:Suit filed against Converse: UPDATE

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

As I recall, the shoes were ugly as hayle to begin with.

Converse, what were you thinking? Who was going to wear shoes that were an amalgamation of everyone's colors, anyway? Was the market of non-Greeks interested in these shoes that large? Converse's legal claim (while it may be technically true) sounds "shady."

So, no, Converse yall need to throw this on the bad-idea pile with "New Coke" and "CopRock."

They were ugly but ugly clothes are worn everyday because they are "trendy." Look at those stupid, colorful ass Bape hoodies that people are spending tons of money on and/or wearing knock offs of.

We were always taught "just because it's made in your org's colors doesn't mean it's cute or you should rock it." Not everyone was taught that so, yes, folks would've worn them and in fact were wearing similar shoes.

[lovelyivy84]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

They were ugly but ugly clothes are worn everyday because they are "trendy." Look at those stupid, colorful ass Bape hoodies that people are spending tons of money on and/or wearing knock offs of.

We were always taught "just because it's made in your org's colors doesn't mean it's cute or you should rock it." Not everyone was taught that so, yes, folks would've worn them and in fact were wearing similar shoes.

Yeah... I know we've all seen the BGLO sneakers, right? Whoo boy those are some...colorful shoes that people have obviously chosen to buy and wear, since they continue to make them.

[jitterbug13]

I wasn't greek when the Converse shoes were out, but I remember the AKA shoes being cute and the Omega ones looking like the shoes that Magic Johnson wore when he played with the Lakers. The other ones looked like regular shoes. But I do admit those shoes were WAY BETTER LOOKING than the shoes the fraternities and sororities do approve of. Some of them are fugly (and I meant to say it like that).

Perfect example (even thought I don't know if the Alphas approved this): www.hhworld.com

[pinkies up]

I don't wear my letters on my feet. I'm just sayin'.

[OOhsoflyDELTA#9]

^^^^^ya heard!!!! or across the back off my ass like on those lil cheerleading shorts...

[jitterbug13]

What I always found so weird about the lawsuit was that the shoes only had the colors and the founding years on them. No letters. But there are people (I know them and ya'll know them too) who love to wear those endorsed shoes. Yeah, and I agree with my soror on the letters on the behind thing.

[Ms Public Service]

For Immediate Release
Friday, February 09, 2007

Contact Information
Converse
Cheryl Calegari
646-563-7300
cheryl.calegari@converse.com
MELODY’service
Melody M. McDowell - President
Council of Presidents
773-660-2001
melody@melodyservice.com
John S. Kendall
Council of Presidents
312-543-1989
john06@patentcopyright.net


(BPRW) CONVERSE AND BLACK-GREEK ORGANIZATIONS’ COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS ANNOUNCE LICENSING AGREEMENT
Agreement Represents Long-Term Arrangement And Collaborative Partnership

(BLACK PR WIRE) (N. Andover, MASS – February 9, 2007) - Converse and representatives from the Council of Presidents, which comprises the leadership of nine historic African-American Fraternities and Sororities, announced today they have entered into a long-term licensing agreement and unique multi-part business opportunity to dismiss a trademark infringement lawsuit filed in 2003 by six of the organizations. The multi-year licensing agreement enables Converse to manufacture, distribute and sell footwear featuring the trademarks of these organizations which represent over 1.8 million members worldwide.

The organizations participating in the licensing agreement are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and lota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

As part of the business arrangement and licensing agreement, Converse has agreed to pay the organizations a percentage of the gross revenue on every product sold by Converse that bears the trademark of the organizations. One of the avenues available for a partnership with the company will be products that feature the respective Centennial celebrations in 2008 for the Converse brand and for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Converse will also host cross-functional summer internships to college and university students from these organizations beginning June 2007. The internships offer graduate level students the opportunity to work in finance, brand and product marketing functions of the company, providing practical business and unique mentoring and experience for emerging leaders.


Samuel C. Hamilton, Chairman of The Council of Presidents and Chief Executive Officer of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., said: “This is an example of how a disagreement can be channeled into cooperation. It is in our mutual interests to develop licensed products that our members will want to support while also providing training to some of our future business executives. That is in line with our mission and serves our members.”

“We are incredibly excited about this announcement joining two historic institutions to collaborate on unique business opportunities and ideas moving forward. We have developed an extremely positive relationship and innovative resolution with the Council of Presidents. We look forward to a long term relationship to further support the fraternities and sororities rich heritage through the brand’s dedication to originality and brand democracy,” said Jack Boys, Chief Executive Officer, Converse.

Barbara McKinzie, International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., added, “It is fortunate that we are able to overcome the challenges that marked the start of our relationship with such a positive outcome. This licensing arrangement gives Converse an opportunity to support some of the community programs our organizations have in place; and the footwear angle gives us an opportunity to use the licensed products to focus on continuing a healthy and active lifestyle. This is the ultimate win/win proposition.”

ABOUT CONVERSE:
Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Converse was the first basketball shoe to ever make contact with the court in 1917. Soon after, Converse gained iconic status with the creation of the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe, which went unmatched through five decades of professional basketball. For more information, visit us on the web at www.converse.com.

ABOUT THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS:
The Council of Presidents is comprised of the heads of the nine traditionally African-American Greek-lettered Organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. They collectively represent over 1.8 million college-trained men and women throughout the United States and abroad. Each organization is bound by a commitment to service.
http://www.blackprwire.com/display-news.asp?id=2931