Las Vegas Golden Knights' Trademark Application Denied

The NHL's 31st franchise that was awarded to Las Vegas hit a snag just weeks after revealing its new team name, the Golden Knights. 

On Wednesday, the team's application to trademark the name was turned down by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which cited the similarities between Vegas and The College of Saint Rose Golden Knights as grounds for denial: "Marks may be confusingly similar in appearance where similar terms or phrases or similar parts of terms or phrases appear in the compared marks and create a similar overall commercial impression." 

Here is the team's unveiled logo, via the Hockey News:

And here is The College of Saint Rose's logo, via SB Nation's Winging It In Motown:

The NHL franchise sent a statement to Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated after the team's application was denied on Wednesday, citing other sports teams that share the same name as a reason to change the ruling:

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly also released a statement Thursday, courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Lazerus: 

The USPTO stated that Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, which won Vegas' bid for housing an NHL team, can "respond to the refusal by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration."

While this wouldn't necessarily have been a big deal for the new franchise that won't begin play until the 2017-18 season, ownership unveiled this logo and scheme on Nov. 22 during a ceremony in front of fans and season-ticket holders outside its new home at T-Mobile Arena.

This obviously raises the question as to how no one in the organization thought it wise to get the trademark approved before presenting it to the sporting world. 

Now Las Vegas' NHL franchise will have to fight for its new name, or else it could begin play next fall under a different moniker.