Paddletramps Case Ends

Tim Burke, Manley Burke, tburke@manleyburke.com

It’s over.  At long last, the Paddletramps case is done.  The trademark rights of fraternities and sororities have been tested in a long and complicated litigation but they have been vindicated and strengthened.

The United States District Court’s decision reaffirmed the trademark ownership rights of Greek organizations, expanded the traditional definition of trademark to include nicknames or symbols that Greek organizations use in trade and successfully challenged a long-time violator of Greek trademark rights resulting in a court order prohibiting continued violations.

The trial court’s decision was affirmed last December by the 5^th Circuit United States Court of Appeals.  On October 7, 2013, the opening day of the new Supreme Court term, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari, meaning, the Supreme Court will not hear the Paddletramps appeal.  The victory by national fraternities and sororities over the trademark infringer is now final.