Why was the Las Vegas Athletics trademark application rejected?

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the application because the term 'athletics' was considered too vague for exclusive trademark rights.

Can the Athletics still get a trademark for their Las Vegas name?

Yes, the Athletics have the option to appeal the decision to an appeal board or potentially in federal court.

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Vegas A's Trademark Rejected

Q: Has the Athletics franchise had trademark issues before?

No, the franchise previously secured trademarks for its names in Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Oakland, as well as its script logo.

7 Jan

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Summary

USPTO rejected trademark applications for 'Las Vegas Athletics' and 'Vegas Athletics'.
The term 'athletics' was deemed too vague for trademark protection.
The team may appeal the decision to an appeal board or federal court.

The Major League Baseball team, the Athletics, has encountered a significant obstacle in securing trademarks for their impending move to Las Vegas. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused applications for both 'Las Vegas Athletics' and 'Vegas Athletics' on December 29. Trademark attorney Josh Gerben indicated that the term 'athletics' was deemed too general to be exclusively trademarked by the club.

While the franchise has historically secured trademarks for its names in Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Oakland, this new application faced unique challenges. Gerben suggested that the team's yet-to-be-established presence in Las Vegas, despite ongoing stadium construction and a local Triple-A team, was a primary factor. The MLB team is currently playing in Sacramento and is not expected to inaugurate their Las Vegas home until 2028.

MLB manages trademark applications for all its teams, and this decision is not necessarily final. The Athletics retain the possibility of appealing the refusal to an appeal board or even pursuing the matter in federal court. Future trademark approval remains a potential outcome for the franchise.