Utah Mammoth NHL Team vs Mammoth Hockey Bag Company: Trademark Lawsuit Explained
The trademark battle between a hockey equipment company and the NHL’s Utah Mammoth has taken center stage, and it’s far from over. The Utah Mammoth, a new NHL franchise, recently filed a lawsuit against Mammoth Hockey, a company specializing in hockey bags, sparking a heated dispute about who truly owns the rights to the Mammoth name and logo. On August 1st, 2025, the Smith Entertainment Group, SEG, the owners of the Utah Mammoth Hockey Team, officially initiated legal action in US District Court against Mammoth Hockey. This lawsuit demands that the court rule the team’s name and branding do not infringe upon Mammoth Hockeyy’s trademark rights, a clear challenge to the equipment company’s claims. But here’s where it gets controversial. Mammoth Hockey, which has been producing hockey bags under the Mammoth brand since 2014, says it is fully prepared to fight back. Eric Olsen, co-founder of Mammoth Hockey, publicly stated that the company plans to vigorously defend its rights to the trademark it has built over the last decade. To them, this isn’t just a name. It’s a brand they’ve helped create and nurture in the hockey community. Interestingly, the lawsuit reveals that Mammoth Hockey initially supported the NHL team’s choice of the Mammoth name. They even approached the franchise about the possibility of collaborating. Yet, by June 2025, the hockey bag company abruptly changed its stance, accusing the NHL team’s use of Mammoth as a violation of their trademark rights. What prompted this change of heart is a question worth pondering. Was it a strategic move or genuine concern over brand confusion? From SEG’s perspective, Mammoth Hockey has never registered the Mammoth name as a trademark in the United States. The NHL team owners highlight key differences in the logo’s designs, including colors and shapes, to argue there is no likelihood of customer confusion. After all, SCG’s branding for the Utah Mammoth was developed through extensive public input and careful design choices during the last season, clearly aiming to establish a distinct identity. Mammoth Hockey, on the other hand, relies on common law trademark rights, rights that come from actual commercial usage rather than formal registration. The company insists its logo and name have gained nationwide recognition, shipping products across 47 states, including Utah. Their legal team warned SEG that consumer confusion could severely impact Mammoth Hockeyy’s business and operations, emphasizing the extensive reach and established market presence of their brand. Meanwhile, SEG is still awaiting approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the Utah Mammoth trademarks. This pending status adds another layer of complexity to the dispute, highlighting the delicate dance between registered and unregistered trademark rights. So, what does this all mean for the hockey world and trademark law? Is Manith hockey justified in protecting a decade old brand in a highly specialized market? Or should the NHL team have the freedom to build its identity with the mammoth name given the differences and the public process involved? And this is the part most people miss. Trademark disputes like this often hinge less on who used the name first and more on how the marks are presented, perceived, and registered. What do you think? Should the veteran equipment company block the NHL team from using the mammoth name? Or is this a case of overp protection? Join the conversation and share your take on this trademark clash in the comments below.
Explore the trademark dispute between the Utah Mammoth NHL team and Mammoth Hockey, a hockey equipment bag manufacturer.
Learn about the details of the lawsuit filed in August 2025, including claims from both sides regarding the use of the ‘Mammoth’ name and logo.
Understand how trademark laws and common law rights are central to the conflict, and why this case matters to hockey fans and businesses.
Stay updated on this ongoing legal battle impacting the NHL’s team branding and hockey merchandise industry.
Keywords: Utah Mammoth lawsuit, Mammoth Hockey bags, NHL trademark dispute, hockey team name conflict, trademark lawsuit 2025, hockey equipment, Utah hockey team news.