Women-Inclusive Michigan Fraternity Can’t Use ‘Sigma Phi’ Marks

A national fraternity successfully defended its ban of its University of Michigan chapter from using its trademarks after the chapter began admitting female members in violation of the organization’s constitution.

Sigma Phi Society Inc. established that Michigan Sigma Phi Inc. had infringed its trademarks after the national umbrella group revoked an implied license to use them in 2019, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan said. Mighigan Sigma Phi continued admitting female members after the national organization voted to reaffirm its male-only rule for admitting new members, and the national organization removed the chapter from its insurance ...