What happens in Vegas does not necessarily stay in Vegas. Sometimes it has repercussions in upstate New York. Such was the recent ruling by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which denied registration of the trademarks Las Vegas Golden Knights and Vegas Golden Knights to the newest National Hockey League franchise, due to their similarity to Golden Knights of the College of Saint Rose, a mark owned by a small college in Albany.
The Vegas Golden Knights, set to begin NHL play later this year, sought registration of its marks for clothing and “entertainment services, namely professional ice hockey exhibitions.” In November, the team unveiled its nickname and logo depicting a knight’s helmet. Demand for team merchandise has been strong, and the club expected sales to grow heading into its debut season.
