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ARTICLE · 04 FEBRUARY 2025

Utah Yetis: U.S. Trademark Lessons For All

Harris Sliwoski
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Utah Yetis. I'll leave it up to readers to decide if they think it's a cool name or not for a sports team.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Fred Rocafort
Fred Rocafort
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United States Trademark Lessons

Utah Yetis. I'll leave it up to readers to decide if they think it's a cool name or not for a sports team. But what is undeniable is that the troubles the NHL's Utah Hockey Club is encountering over its attempt to use and register that name as a trademark offers valuable lessons to businesses of all sizes.

The Yeti Trademark Dispute: A Quick Overview

The Utah Hockey Club, part of the National Hockey League, has encountered significant challenges after choosing to brand their team as the Yetis.

Unfortunately for the club, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) determined that Utah Yetis is too similar to trademarks held by Yeti Coolers, a well-established outdoor products company. Yeti Coolers' prominence in branded apparel created a key issue, as sports teams often rely heavily on merchandise like clothing and accessories to promote their brand. The USPTO likely concluded that consumers could mistakenly associate Utah

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