Latest news with #MammothHockey
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Utah Mammoth file trademark lawsuit against equipment company
Smith Entertainment Group, the owners of the NHL's Utah Mammoth, filed a federal lawsuit against a hockey equipment company to escalate their trademark dispute. The franchise formerly known as the Coyotes moved from Arizona to Utah before the 2024-25 NHL season and spent its first season there known as the Utah Hockey Club. In May, the team revealed its permanent name to be the Mammoth, with an image of a woolly mammoth's face protruding from a mountain serving as the logo. The equipment company, Mammoth Hockey, sent a cease-and-desist letter arguing that the Utah team name could lead to consumer confusion in the market. Mammoth Hockey sells oversized hockey gear bags, though its logo and colors do not resemble Utah's. Smith Entertainment Group disagrees that the Mammoth team name hurts Mammoth Hockey's business dealings. Both parties released statements to the Deseret News in Salt Lake City on Thursday. "Utah Mammoth and the NHL believe strongly that we have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law, and that our use will not harm the defendant or its business in any way," the team's statement said. "We have taken this action only after careful consideration based on the defendant's position. We are not able to comment further on ongoing legal matters." Mammoth Hockey co-founder Erik Olson wrote in a statement to the Deseret News, "Mammoth Hockey intends to vigorously defend the litigation recently commenced against it by Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League and protect its longstanding trademark used in connection with the hockey goods it has manufactured and sold for the past 10 years." The NHL franchise earlier was unable to use the name Utah Yeti, a popular fan choice, because it couldn't reach a co-existence agreement with YETI Coolers, LLC.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Utah Mammoth file trademark lawsuit against equipment company
August 8 - Smith Entertainment Group, the owners of the NHL's Utah Mammoth, filed a federal lawsuit against a hockey equipment company to escalate their trademark dispute. The franchise formerly known as the Coyotes moved from Arizona to Utah before the 2024-25 NHL season and spent its first season there known as the Utah Hockey Club. In May, the team revealed its permanent name to be the Mammoth, with an image of a woolly mammoth's face protruding from a mountain serving as the logo. The equipment company, Mammoth Hockey, sent a cease-and-desist letter arguing that the Utah team name could lead to consumer confusion in the market. Mammoth Hockey sells oversized hockey gear bags, though its logo and colors do not resemble Utah's. Smith Entertainment Group disagrees that the Mammoth team name hurts Mammoth Hockey's business dealings. Both parties released statements to the Deseret News in Salt Lake City on Thursday. "Utah Mammoth and the NHL believe strongly that we have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law, and that our use will not harm the defendant or its business in any way," the team's statement said. "We have taken this action only after careful consideration based on the defendant's position. We are not able to comment further on ongoing legal matters." Mammoth Hockey co-founder Erik Olson wrote in a statement to the Deseret News, "Mammoth Hockey intends to vigorously defend the litigation recently commenced against it by Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League and protect its longstanding trademark used in connection with the hockey goods it has manufactured and sold for the past 10 years." --Field Level Media
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah Mammoth in yet another trademark fight over its name change, this time with a hockey bag company
For the second time this year, the NHL team in Utah is facing trademark objections from a pre-existing company over its new name. First, it was the company behind Yeti coolers refusing to back down so the team could adopt its preferred Utah Yeti name. Now, the recently christened Utah Mammoth are facing similar objections from a hockey bag company. Per Deseret News, Mammoth Hockey, an Oregon-based company that has sold hockey bags since 2014, recently sent the NHL team a cease-and-desist letter requesting it stop using the name, turn over all unsold merchandise bearing the new brand and provide copies of its accounting. Both companies feature a mammoth in their logos. Smith Entertainment Group reportedly responded with a lawsuit stating it was the sole owner of all trademarks related to the name, which Mammoth Hockey has vowed to fight: 'Mammoth Hockey intends to vigorously defend the litigation recently commenced against it by Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League and protect its longstanding trademark used in connection with the hockey goods it has manufactured and sold for the past 10 years,' said Erik Olson, co-founder of Mammoth Hockey. While Mammoth Hockey has existed for more than a decade, the News reports it does not maintain any active trademarks at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, making any claim against the NHL team based on common law, a more uphill battle than a granted trademark. This was why the Yeti name fell through for the Mammoth, as the USPTO rejected its trademark attempt due to a "likelihood of confusion" with pre-existing trademarks. Different companies can feature a similar name if they're in clearly different fields (e.g. Dove beauty products and Dove chocolate), but the Yeti cooler company sold certain products, such as its apparel line, that could be impacted by an NHL team's products. SEG also reportedly noted a 2024 Facebook post and a 2025 series of LinkedIn messages and emails in which Mammoth Hockey seemingly showed support for the Utah Mammoth name choice. The Mammoth are requesting a decision in federal court on their use of the name, via the News: 'Utah Mammoth and the NHL believe strongly that we have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law, and that our use will not harm the defendant or its business in any way. We have taken this action only after careful consideration based on the defendant's position. We are not able to comment further on ongoing legal matters,' the Utah Mammoth said in a statement to the Deseret News. A second trademark fight is only the latest twist in a bizarrely protracted naming saga. The team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City after Ryan Smith's purchase of the team and played its first season there with the temporary Utah Hockey Club nickname. It held three different round of voting featuring 21 different possible names, including the incumbent Hockey Club, before finally landing on the Mammoth.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah Mammoth files lawsuit in trademark dispute with hockey equipment bag manufacturer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The owners of the NHL's Utah Mammoth have filed a lawsuit against a hockey equipment bag manufacturer to settle a trademark dispute. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Utah claims the Mammoth and Mammoth Hockey LLC have reached a stalemate in the trademark fight. 'Utah Mammoth and the NHL believe strongly that we have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law, and that our use will not harm the defendant or its business in any way,' Smith Entertainment Group officials said in a statement. 'We have taken this action only after careful consideration based on the defendant's position.' The Mammoth announced the new name and logo in May following the team's first season in Utah. The team used the name Utah Hockey Club for its first season after moving from Arizona to Salt Lake City. Oregon-based Mammoth Hockey issued a cease-and-desist letter not long after the new franchise name was unveiled, claiming potential customers would confuse the two brands and fans of rival teams would not purchase its products. The team and the company both have mammoth-shaped logos, and are associated with 'Mammoth' and 'hockey,' according to the letter. Mammoth Hockey launched in 2014 and manufactures large equipment bags geared toward hockey players. 'Mammoth Hockey intends to vigorously defend the litigation recently commenced against it by Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League and protect its longstanding trademark used in connection with the hockey goods it has manufactured and sold for the past 10 years,' Mammoth Hockey co-founder Erik Olson said in a statement to the Deseret News. ___ AP NHL:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Utah Mammoth files lawsuit in trademark dispute with hockey equipment bag manufacturer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The owners of the NHL's Utah Mammoth have filed a lawsuit against a hockey equipment bag manufacturer to settle a trademark dispute. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Utah claims the Mammoth and Mammoth Hockey LLC have reached a stalemate in the trademark fight. 'Utah Mammoth and the NHL believe strongly that we have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law, and that our use will not harm the defendant or its business in any way,' Smith Entertainment Group officials said in a statement. 'We have taken this action only after careful consideration based on the defendant's position.' The Mammoth announced the new name and logo in May following the team's first season in Utah. The team used the name Utah Hockey Club for its first season after moving from Arizona to Salt Lake City. Oregon-based Mammoth Hockey issued a cease-and-desist letter not long after the new franchise name was unveiled, claiming potential customers would confuse the two brands and fans of rival teams would not purchase its products. The team and the company both have mammoth-shaped logos, and are associated with 'Mammoth' and 'hockey,' according to the letter. Mammoth Hockey launched in 2014 and manufactures large equipment bags geared toward hockey players. 'Mammoth Hockey intends to vigorously defend the litigation recently commenced against it by Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League and protect its longstanding trademark used in connection with the hockey goods it has manufactured and sold for the past 10 years,' Mammoth Hockey co-founder Erik Olson said in a statement to the Deseret News. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP NHL:
