The Vegas Golden Knights have had the most successful inaugural season for an expansion team in NHL history, but their legacy could take a hit if the United States Army has their way.
As usual with anything relating to logos, SportsLogos.Net’s Chris Creamer was all over this one.
As another deadline approached, the Army made their intentions very clear with this trademark dispute. The dispute is in reference to the United States Army Parachute team. Some Golden Knights representatives have referenced the parachute team in the past, including once to TSN radio.
A lawyer that Creamer spoke to that is familiar with sports logo cases referenced a case that the Jaguars lost (And had to change their logo) as a comparable for this case.
Here is what they’ll focus on in their case:
“Three grounds of opposition are listed in the filing — Trademark Act Section 2(d): priority and likelihood of confusion; Trademark Act Sections 2 and 43(c): dilution by blurring; and Trademark Act Section 2(a): false suggestion of a connection with persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or brings them into contempt, or disrepute. The filing claims that the Army ‘believes it will be damaged’ by the registration of the mark, that they have long used the mark (since ‘at least 1969’) in connection with its U.S. Army Parachute team, as well as for recruiting efforts, and public relations for the U.S. Military. The similar colour scheme is also noted in the notice of opposition, claiming the Army owns ‘common law’ rights to ‘black+gold/yellow+white’.”
Vegas responded to this dispute, stating that “We are not aware of a single complaint from anyone attending our games that they were expecting to see the parachute team”, but realistically it will come down to what the courts think.
