Army claims NHL team violates trademark rights

On Behalf of | Jan 31, 2018 | Business Litigation |

California hockey fans may be excited about the Vegas Golden Knights’ inaugural season. However, the Army is claiming that the Golden Knights name is a violation of their intellectual property. It claims that it has used the term Golden Knights since the 1960s for public relations and recruiting purposes. The Army also claims to have rights to the black-and-gold and yellow-and-white color schemes used by the NHL franchise.

Furthermore, the Army says that the colors worn by the NHL franchise are similar to those worn by West Point hockey players. The color scheme is also used in Tate Arena, where the Army plays its home games. Therefore, it is possible that the NHL team could confuse the public if its request for a Vegas Golden Knights trademark is approved. The team disputed this claim in a statement, saying that it wasn’t aware of any confusion from those attending games.

The intellectual property of a company may be among its most valuable assets. Intellectual property may include brand names, logos or slogans. It may also include mascots or color schemes that help to differentiate it from others in the marketplace. If a business finds that another person or entity is infringing on its trademark or other rights to such property, it may be possible to take legal action.

An attorney may be able to help a business owner take appropriate steps to defend his or her trademarks or other branding materials. This may include sending a cease-and-desist letter or taking an offending party to court. Mediation or other forms of negotiation may also take place. If an unfair competition claim is successful, a trademark or copyright holder may be entitled to compensation as well as assurances that the infringing behavior will stop.

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