Salt Lake City franchise asks federal court to clear team name as Oregon firm vows to fight
The NHL’s Utah Mammoth have filed a declaratory-judgment lawsuit against Oregon equipment maker Mammoth Hockey LLC, seeking a ruling that the club’s name and marks do not infringe the company’s rights.
The complaint was lodged on 1 August in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
Smith Entertainment Group Hockey and UYTE, LLC are named as plaintiffs. They say the dispute escalated after Mammoth Hockey sent a cease-and-desist letter in June arguing that overlapping use of “Mammoth” and mammoth-shaped logos in the hockey market risks consumer confusion.
The team countered that the parties operate in different channels and that the brands are distinct in “appearance, sound and meaning.”
Mammoth Hockey, founded in 2014, claims common-law trademark rights from use in commerce rather than federal registration, and told the court it ships products to 47 US states, including Utah. It argues confusion could deter fans of rival NHL teams from buying its bags if they believe purchases support the Utah club.
Utah says Mammoth Hockey initially showed support for “Mammoth” as a potential team name, including a 2024 social post and messages about a possible collaboration, before “reversing course” this summer. The bag maker replied that those communications were observations, not endorsements.
In statements to local media, the team said it “believe[s] strongly that we have the right to use the name Utah Mammoth under federal and state law,” while Mammoth Hockey said it “intends to vigorously defend” its mark.
Court records cited by KSL indicate Mammoth Hockey has been served with a summons. No hearings or decisions have been announced as of August 12, 2025.
Why it matters
The challenge is the second branding hurdle the franchise has faced.
“Utah Yetis” – a leading option earlier in the naming process – was refused by the US Patent and Trademark Office in January for a likelihood of confusion with YETI Coolers, prompting the team to pivot to a fan vote that produced “Utah Mammoth” on 7 May.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the club’s federal trademark applications for “Utah Mammoth” name and logo remain pending at the USPTO, a status that puts added weight on the federal court’s eventual ruling.
The team’s primary “Mountain Mammoth” mark features Wasatch peaks, the outline of Utah in one of the peaks, and a tusk shaped like a “U,” with “Tusks up” adopted as the rallying cry. The identity was unveiled alongside the permanent name.
The lawsuit asks the court to confirm the club’s right to use “Utah Mammoth” across team operations and merchandise.
Mammoth Hockey maintains that coexistence will confuse consumers and dilute its brand built over a decade. Until the court weighs in, both sides appear dug in.
