Report: Golden Knights’ trademark dispute isn’t over yet
The Golden Knights’ trademark dispute might not be finished after all.
According to a report from SportsLogos.Net, the Army and The College of St. Rose in upstate New York recently were granted extensions to file official opposition to the NHL expansion team’s name.
A trademark dispute on behalf of the Army and the school was initiated in December by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against the Golden Knights.
The College of St. Rose uses the name for its athletic teams. Similarly, the Army’s parachute team is called the Golden Knights.
Golden Knights majority owner Bill Foley said he wasn’t concerned.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” he said Friday before the Knights-Detroit Red Wings game at T-Mobile Arena. “But I’m not worried at all. We’re not going to change the name. We are in a unique situation.”
Foley said team attorney Peter Sadowski and the NHL will handle the situation. Sadowski was in China on Friday and could not be reached for comment.
The issue appeared to be resolved in August when the USPTO gave approval for the Golden Knights to continue to use the name for identification and competition purposes.
But SportsLogos.Net reported that the Army and school filed requests in the past two weeks to extend the deadline to file opposition to the names “Vegas Golden Knights” and “Las Vegas Golden Knights.”
The requests were granted, and the new deadline to file an official opposition is Jan. 10.
DISH dispute
Just when it appeared the issue of televising the Knights was done with the Cox-AT&T agreement Oct. 6, there’s still problems for fans who can’t watch the games on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
DISH customers are blocked this time. The satellite TV provider hasn’t reached terms with AT&T because AT&T is demanding DISH pay a surcharge for the signal to be shown in Las Vegas.
The channel, which is on DISH, does show the Knights games outside of the Las Vegas market.
DISH officials said in a statement Friday: “While DISH has an existing relationship to carry AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, we have been unable to come to an agreement to carry the Golden Knights games within their territory. AT&T SportsNet is asking DISH to pay a surcharge to deliver these games.
“DISH is committed to providing high quality sports programming at an appropriate value. If that balance can be struck, we are willing to consider it.”
AT&T responded, saying: “We have had and continue to have conversations with distributors in the Vegas Golden Knights television territory. While we don’t comment on specific negotiations, our desire is to achieve as broad distribution as possible for the Vegas Golden Knights throughout their television territory.”
Mascot revealed
The Knights staged their elaborate pregame show Friday, which ended with a golden knight pulling a sword from a stone at center ice.
The team also unveiled its mascot, a gila monster named Chance.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter. Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.
