Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Reach Agreement With DC Business

Chicago, Illinois – August 31, 2011 – Officials from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority announced today that the owners of the Washington, D.C. establishment, whose name included the initials AKA, have agreed to change the name.

According to Paul Kadlick, president, the decision was made out of respect for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s long and storied history of service, and in the interest of being a good corporate neighbor.

The decision to change the name came after the Sorority learned about the company’s use of its registered mark “AKA”.  Because the sorority’s initials are trademark protected, any unauthorized use of it is in violation of the U.S. Trademark Laws and Statutes. Through its attorney, John S. Kendall, Esquire Alpha Kappa Alpha dispatched a cease letter to Kadlick alerting him of potential infringement.

Kadlick said that use of the name was coincidental and not intentional.  He also said that the initials they used in the name of its club corresponded with the initials in the names of each of the partners and that they were unaware of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s trademark registrations. He indicated that he and his partners are “good corporate citizens” who meant no ill will. In the spirit of cooperation they agreed to change the name.

Attorney Carolyn House Stewart, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s international president, acknowledged that the matter had caused concern from among the membership and required action;  therefore, she was pleased with the successful and amicable resolution of this issue. She stated that this development is a “win/win” for both organizations.