BREAKING: Utah NHL Team Files Lawsuit Over Mammoth Name Dispute
Breaking. Utah NHL team files lawsuit over mammoth name dispute. Utah’s NHL team, the Utah Mammoth, has taken legal action against a hockey bag company in an effort to resolve a trademark dispute. The team filed a lawsuit this month against Mammoth Hockey LLC, a seller of high-end hockey bags, after the company claimed the NHL team’s name violated trademark rights. The Utah Mammoth and its owners, SEG Hockey, are seeking a resolution under the US Declaratory Judgment Act. The team believes they have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law and that their use will not harm the defendant or its business in any way. Documents included in the lawsuit show that Mammoth Hockey initially supported the NHL team adopting the Mammoth name and even approached the team about a possible collaboration. However, in June, the bag company reversed course and claimed trademark rights violations. The NHL team alleges Mammoth Hockey does not maintain and has never filed any trademark application for the Mammoth designation in the United States. They also pointed out the differences in design between the two logos, namely color and shape. The bag company argues it is highly likely that consumers will confuse the two marks, risking their clients business and operations. They believe hockey enthusiasts who pledge support for a team other than Utah Mammoth will not purchase goods from their client due to the consumer’s mistaken belief that such a purchase would support a rival team. Utah Mammoth trademark dispute. What you need to know. Utah Mammoth’s legal battle. A trademark dispute unfolds. Salt Lake City, the newly minted name of Utah’s NHL team, has found itself entangled in a legal quagmire. Smith Entertainment Group Hockey and UT LLC, the proprietors of the Utah Mammoth, have initiated a lawsuit against Mammoth Hockey LLC, an Oregon-based manufacturer of hockey equipment bags. This legal action was filed in the US District Court of Utah on Friday as both parties find themselves in a contentious trademark dispute seeking judicial intervention to resolve their differences. In a statement to ksl.com, officials from Smith Entertainment Group expressed their firm belief in their right to use the name Utah Mammoth under both federal and state laws, asserting that their usage will not adversely affect the defendant’s business. They emphasize that this decision was made after thorough consideration of the defendant’s stance. Interestingly, Mammoth Hockey has been in operation for a decade longer than Utah’s NHL franchise. Established in 2014 through a successful Kickstarter campaign, the company specializes in producing large equipment bags tailored for hockey players across all skill levels. The conflict appears to have surfaced shortly after Smith Entertainment Group announced in May that the former Utah hockey club would now be known as the Mammoth. This name was one of the permanent options that emerged following the team’s relocation from Arizona in April 2024. Just over a month later, a lawyer representing Mammoth Hockey sent a cease and desist letter to Smith Entertainment Group demanding an immediate halt to any promotion of the team name. The letter claimed that the activities surrounding the name could potentially lead to trademark infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition as documented in court filings. The crux of Mammoth Hockeyy’s concerns lies in its service mark, which encompasses a combination of symbols, words, or designs linked to a trademark. Both entities share associations with the terms mammoth and hockey, and they both utilize mammoth-shaped logos. Legal representatives argued that this similarity could mislead consumers into believing there is a connection between the two companies. The letter warned that such confusion could jeopardize the goodwill that Mammoth Hockey has cultivated over the past decade. In their lawsuit, Smith Entertainment Group and UIT firmly denied any trademark violation, asserting that the name Utah Mammoth is entirely permissible for a professional hockey team. Their legal team described the cease and desist request as a surprise, noting in a response letter dated June 23rd that the logos and symbols of both parties are distinct in appearance, sang, and meaning. Furthermore, they argued that the products and services offered by both companies are not in direct competition and are marketed through different channels. A notable moment occurred during a press conference on May 7th where fans were seen purchasing Utah Mammoth merchandise celebrating the announcement of the name change. A screenshot from Mammoth Hockeyy’s social media revealed that the company had previously expressed a preference for the Utah Mammoth name, indicating a willingness to collaborate if the name was chosen. However, the lawsuit contends that Mammoth Hockeyy’s recent actions contradict their earlier public support for the name selection. In a subsequent letter sent to Smith Entertainment Group just before the lawsuit was filed, Mammoth Hockeyy’s lawyers claimed that the previous comments misrepresented the nature of their communications. They reiterated that both companies operate within the same hockey ecosystem, suggesting that the Utah team name could deter fans of other NHL teams from purchasing products from the Oregon company. The letter also hinted at potential challenges similar to those faced by another team name contender, Yeti, which was rejected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office due to a likelihood of confusion with the Yeti cooler brand. In response to the uncertainty created by Mammoth Hockey, Smith and UIT filed their lawsuit the following day, arguing that the Oregon company had been aware of the potential name for nearly a year without raising any objections. The plaintiffs are seeking a court ruling to affirm that the Utah Mammoth trademark associated with the NHL franchise is fully compliant with legal standards and does not infringe upon Mammoth Hockeyy’s trademark, which could potentially resolve the ongoing dispute. As of now, it remains uncertain when this case will be resolved in court. Officials from Smith Entertainment Group have opted not to comment further on the lawsuit, while Mammoth Hockey has yet to respond to ksl.com’s request for additional information. Utah Mammoth versus Mammoth Hockey trademark battle explained. NHL team name 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 team’s name. Mammoth Hockey LLC, a company based in Portland, Oregon, has reportedly insisted that the Utah Mammoth cease using the name Mammoth, arguing that there is a significant chance of confusion between their brand and the services offered by the hockey team. In an email exchange between the two parties, attorneys representing Mammoth Hockey expressed their concerns, stating, “It is highly likely that consumers will confuse the two marks, risking our clients business and operations.” They further elaborated, “The likelihood of confusion will have a detrimental effect on our client’s business.” Hockey fans who choose to support a team other than Utah Mammoth may refrain from purchasing products from our client due to the mistaken belief that such purchases would benefit a competing team. The lawsuit indicates that Mammoth Hockey has threatened legal action against Utah Mammoth but has not specified any timeline for potential litigation. Interestingly, Utah Mammoth contends that Manmouth Hockey was initially in favor of the name. During the lengthy naming process that spanned a year, Mammoth Hockey shared a screenshot highlighting Utah Mammoth among a list of proposed names, stating, “We’re pretty partial to this one.” accompanied by a winking emoji. Additionally, Eric Olsen, a co-founder of Mammoth Hockey, reached out to Rachel Moffett, who serves as the president of hockey operations for Utah Mammoth, suggesting it would be cool to talk about a possible collaboration. Should the name Mammoth be chosen for the team? However, the situation took a different turn in June 2025 after the Utah Hockey Club officially adopted the name Mammoth. 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 offer for collaboration was made precisely because of the likelihood of confusion between the marks. Utah Mammoth’s attorneys expressed frustration in the lawsuit, stating, “The uncertainty created by defendants actions, which has persisted for months with no action as of yet, has become intolerable.” They argue that the logos and services of both entities are distinctly different, asserting that consumer confusion is unlikely. The Utah Mammoth is seeking a resolution from the US District Court under the US Declaratory Judgment Act to clarify the dispute. 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 Utah Mammoth was first proposed as a potential identity for the state’s NHL team in 2024 during a fan voting initiative aimed at selecting the team’s name. By June of that year, Mammoth had emerged as one of six finalists and ultimately made it to the final three names in January 2025. Mammoth Hockey commenced operations in 2014, launching its inaugural hockey equipment bag. However, the lawsuit claims that Mammoth Hockey has neither maintained nor filed a trademark application for its mammoth design, which prominently features a red mammoth facing forward.
00:00 – BREAKING: Utah NHL Team Files Lawsuit Over Mammoth Name Dispute
01:44 – Utah Mammoth Trademark Dispute: What You Need to Know
07:16 – Utah Mammoth vs Mammoth Hockey: Trademark Battle Explained | NHL Team Name Dispute
1. BREAKING: Utah NHL Team Files Lawsuit Over Mammoth Name Dispute
The Utah Mammoth NHL team has filed a lawsuit against Mammoth Hockey LLC in a trademark dispute that could determine the future of the team’s name. The hockey bag company initially supported the team’s name choice but later reversed course, claiming trademark violations.
In this video, we break down:
• The complete timeline of the Utah Mammoth naming process
• How Mammoth Hockey LLC initially supported the team name
• Why the bag company changed its position in June 2025
• Legal arguments from both sides in the trademark battle
• What this means for Utah’s NHL franchise moving forward
The Smith Entertainment Group filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court, asking for a declaratory judgment to resolve the uncertainty. Mammoth Hockey has operated since 2014, a decade before Utah’s NHL team adopted the name.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing sports law story that could impact how professional teams choose and protect their branding in the future.
2. Utah Mammoth Trademark Dispute: What You Need to Know
In this video, we dive into the ongoing trademark dispute between the Utah Mammoth NHL team and Oregon’s Mammoth Hockey. Learn about the legal drama surrounding the name, the implications for both companies, and what this means for fans. We discuss the history of the Mammoth name, the lawsuit details, and the potential outcomes. Stay tuned for insights on trademark laws and their impact on sports branding.
3. Utah Mammoth vs Mammoth Hockey: Trademark Battle Explained | NHL Team Name Dispute
The Utah Mammoth, Utah’s newest NHL team, is facing a trademark dispute with Mammoth Hockey, a Portland-based hockey bag company. This video breaks down the legal battle over the ‘Mammoth’ name.
We explore how Mammoth Hockey initially appeared supportive of the name choice, even suggesting potential collaborations, before changing stance and demanding Utah Mammoth stop using the name. The hockey equipment company claims consumer confusion between the brands could harm their business.
Utah Mammoth has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking resolution under the Declaratory Judgment Act, arguing the logos and services are significantly different with little chance of consumer confusion.
The video covers the timeline of Utah’s team naming process from 2024 through the final selection in 2025, and provides background on Mammoth Hockey’s operations since 2014.