Attorney Jennifer Ko Craft Quoted in Articles on NHL Golden Knights' Trademark
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Jennifer Ko Craft (Member, Las Vegas) was recently quoted by Bloomberg Law and Bretibart regarding the topic, “U.S. Army Challenges Las Vegas Hockey Team Over ‘Golden Knights’ Name.” Jennifer feels that the Army is overstepping. “Sometimes, you need to step back and put aside what the cases and rules say, and ask yourself – would someone mistakenly buy a ticket to a Vegas Golden Knights hockey game, thinking that they are buying a ticket to an Army Golden Knights parachute event? I just don’t see it, and I would be surprised if the TTAB (Trademark Trial and Appeal Board) rules in the Army’s favor,” Jennifer said. Further complicating the challenge, the Army is relying on its “common law” ownership rights because the government had never filed for any trademark applications for the parachute team’s name and logos.
Jennifer was also quoted extensively in the Las Vegas Sun article, “Don’t bet on a Golden Knights name change in trademark case”. “I would be very surprised if they rule in the Army’s favor,” said Jennifer. “I think the hockey team has a pretty strong case.” Jennifer said the opposition filed by the Army is typical in her line of work. “You understand that there are a ton of teams and organizations that use black and gold, and a ton of organizations that use Knights,” Jennifer said. “To say that one specific entity owns the rights to the name isn’t likely.” She said the biggest hurdle for the Army is the vast difference between the teams. “We’re talking about a hockey team versus a parachute team,” Jennifer said. “Because the sports themselves are so different, I just don’t see how fans would get confused. Typically sports fans are avid fans that know a lot about their team and there’s almost no way for the two to be confused.”
Jennifer was also quoted extensively in the Las Vegas Sun article, “Don’t bet on a Golden Knights name change in trademark case”. “I would be very surprised if they rule in the Army’s favor,” said Jennifer. “I think the hockey team has a pretty strong case.” Jennifer said the opposition filed by the Army is typical in her line of work. “You understand that there are a ton of teams and organizations that use black and gold, and a ton of organizations that use Knights,” Jennifer said. “To say that one specific entity owns the rights to the name isn’t likely.” She said the biggest hurdle for the Army is the vast difference between the teams. “We’re talking about a hockey team versus a parachute team,” Jennifer said. “Because the sports themselves are so different, I just don’t see how fans would get confused. Typically sports fans are avid fans that know a lot about their team and there’s almost no way for the two to be confused.”
