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Looking to make and sell products related to your favorite sorority or fraternity? Let’s look at licensing information today.
Table of Contents
Do You Need a License to Sell Greek Related Products?
Yes. If you want to make and sell Greek sorority and fraternity products, you will need a license because their properties are trademarked.
How Are Letters Trademarked?
Federal courts have upheld that a combination of letters can be trademarked several times. For example, BMW (the car manufacturer), ABC (the broadcasting network), and IBM (the computer company).
Greek sorority and fraternity names are no different.
What is Trademarked Related to Sororities and Fraternities?
While it will vary for each sorority or fraternity, in general these things are trademarked:
- The sorority or fraternity name
- The sorority or fraternity nickname
- The Greek letters
- Crest
- Badge
- Symbols
- Other insignia
Who Handles Greek Licensing?
Affinity Consultants handles licensing for many of the Greek sororities and fraternities.
Licensing Facts with Affinity Consultants
- Affinity Consultants handles licensing arrangements for more than 100 Greek Organizations.
- An application, applicable fees, and product samples are required to apply for licensing.
- Royalties are required upon the sale of the products; but royalty amounts vary between organizations.
- All product designs must be approved before being produced.
- A $1 million dollar insurance policy is required.
- Anyone that plans to sell Greek themed sorority or fraternity items must be licensed.
- Sorority or Fraternity members must be licensed if they plan to sell items with trademarks on them.
- A full list of Official Vendors is located on Affinity Consultants website.
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.
Carolyn J, Gill
Thursday 9th of November 2023
Where can I find the application to apply for selling the 4 black sorority names (DST,Inc., AKA,Inc., ZETA,Inc., SIGMA,Inc). ? I will be using Cricut Machine. I am a DST, Inc. myself.
Missie
Sunday 26th of May 2024
@Carolyn J, Gill, Did you have any luck with this? None of the Divine 9 are listed on these websites & I really want to sell specifically those items.
Christine Schinagl, Cutting for Business
Sunday 12th of November 2023
Did you check Affinity?
VaNessa
Monday 8th of May 2023
Is there an application process to apply for a license and what is the actual cost for the license in total and what is an estimated cost for the insurance.
Missie
Sunday 26th of May 2024
@Christine Schinagl, Cutting for Business. Hello, none of the Divine 9 organizations are listed on that website. Is there any other way to get a license for those specific organizations other than going to each individually?
Christine Schinagl, Cutting for Business
Monday 8th of May 2023
Hi Vanessa! Yes, there is an application process. Different organizations are going to have different license fees. Your insurance costs will vary depending on your coverages. More information: https://greeklicensing.com/licensing
Sandra Washington
Tuesday 24th of May 2022
Hi,yes I would like to apply for Greek licensing.
Christine, Cutting for Business
Friday 24th of June 2022
Great!
Cindy Robinson
Tuesday 1st of May 2018
Yes I am interested in knowing more about making Greek apparel on my cricut along with selling
Christine
Saturday 5th of May 2018
Hope you found this article helpful!
danielle
Friday 16th of March 2018
What are the consequences if someone is selling greek items without a license.
Christine
Monday 19th of March 2018
You open yourself up to being sued if crafting Greek products without proper permissions.