Utah Mammoth Lawsuit: NHL Team Fights for Name Amid Trademark Dispute
In a surprising turn of events, Utah’s latest professional sports franchise, the Utah Mammoth, has initiated legal proceedings this month to resolve a trademark conflict with a specialized retailer of premium hockey bags concerning the use of their name. Mammoth Faky LLC, a company based in Portland, Oregon, has reportedly insisted that the Utah Mammoth cease using the name Mammoth, arguing that it could lead to confusion among consumers regarding the brands and their respective offerings. In an email exchanged between the two parties, attorneys representing Manmouth Hockey expressed their concerns, stating, “There is a significant likelihood that consumers will confuse the two brands, which jeopardizes our clients business operations.” They further elaborated, “This potential confusion could adversely impact our clients sales, as hockey fans who support a different team may mistakenly believe that purchasing from our client would be supporting a competing team.” The lawsuit indicates that Mammoth Hockey has threatened legal action against Utah Mammoth, but has not specified any timeline for such actions. On the other hand, Utah Mammoth contends that Mammoth Hockey was initially in favor of the name. During the lengthy naming process that spanned a year, Mammoth Hockey even shared a screenshot highlighting Utah Mammoth among a list of suggested names, commenting, “We’re quite fond of this one.” accompanied by a winking emoji. Additionally, Eric Olsen, a co-founder of Mammoth Hockey, reached out to Rachel Moffett, who is the president of hockey operations for Utah Mammoth, suggesting it would be great to discuss a potential partnership should the name Mammoth be chosen for the team. However, despite this initial endorsement, Mammoth Hockey shifted its stance in June 2025 following the official adoption of the name by the Utah hockey team. According to the lawsuit, Mammoth Hockey later claimed that their social media post was merely an observation rather than an endorsement. They also stated that the suggestion of collaboration was made specifically due to the potential for confusion between the two brands. Utah Mammoth’s attorneys expressed frustration in the lawsuit, stating, “The ambiguity caused by the defendant’s actions has lingered for months without resolution, which has become unbearable.” They argue that the logos and services of both entities are distinctly different, asserting that consumer confusion is highly unlikely. Utah Mammoth is seeking a resolution from the US District Court under the US Declaratory Judgment Act to clarify the situation. As of the time of this report, ABC4 has reached out to Mammoth Hockey for their comments, but has not received a response. The name UM Namoth was first proposed as a candidate for the state’s NHL team in 2024 during a fan voting initiative aimed at establishing the team’s identity. By June of that year, Mammoth was among six finalists and ultimately made it to the final three names in January 2025. Mammoth Hockey commenced operations in 2014 with the introduction of its inaugural Thaki equipment bag. However, the lawsuit claims that Mammoth Hockey has neither maintained nor filed a trademark application for its Mammoth logo, which prominently features a red mammoth facing forward.
Explore the full story behind the Utah Mammoth NHL team’s legal battle over its new name!
Utah’s newest NHL franchise, the Utah Mammoth, is taking their trademark dispute to federal court after Mammoth Hockey—a Portland-based high-end hockey bag company—claimed exclusive rights to the ‘Mammoth’ name. The bag company, which initially expressed support for the team’s name choice, changed course in June 2025, citing consumer confusion and threatening litigation. The Utah Mammoth argues their naming process was public and transparent, with fan voting and open discussions.
Learn about the origins of both brands, why the dispute erupted, and what this means for the future of the team and trademark law in professional sports. Includes a breakdown of legal claims, timeline of the name selection, and expert commentary on possible outcomes.
Keywords: Utah Mammoth, NHL, trademark dispute, Mammoth Hockey, sports law, naming controversy, hockey news, Salt Lake City sports.