The University of North Dakota is officially considering five possibilities for the new nicknames for their athletic teams. Continuing to play without a nickname has been vetoed by the soon-to-be-ex-president of the university and the state board of higher education.
An amateur hockey team recently sent a warning letter about trademark licensing; the Say Anything Blog covered it there. The following was my comment on that blog.
These Roughriders people also hold the trademark for Roughriders soccer, golf, and lacrosse.
And while I'm searching trademarks....
The Frisco Roughriders have a mark for «Paper goods
and printed matter, namely, pencil holders, pens, non-electric erasers,
pencils, autograph books, baseball trading cards, bumper stickers,
lithographs, bookmarks, sticker albums, paper pennants, check books,
travel guide books, check book covers, decals, paper name badges,
printed paper signs, paper weights, pictures, posters, printed awards,
media guides, baseball demographics questionnaires, baseball score
books, printed survey answer sheets, paper identification tags, printed
souvenir game tickets and game programs.», «Clothing, namely, shirts, shorts,
t-shirts, polo shirts, golf shirts, tank tops, jogging suits, socks,
jackets, sweaters, [ vests, ] pants, ponchos, visors, raincoats, hats,
caps, cloth bibs, [ ties, ] pajamas, [ baby pants, baby booties, ]
sweatshirts, [ mittens, ] gloves, knitted hats, [ scarves, ] [ hosiery,
] wrist bands, head bands, [ robes, aprons, ] shoes, wind resistent
jackets, jumpsuits, sweatpants, [ overalls,] bandanas, beachwear, [
bathing suits, belts, ] bermuda shorts, blouses, coats, dresses, gym
suits, head wear, [ leather jackets, ] jerseys, pullovers, rompers,
rainwear, parkas, night shirts, [ neckwear, ] v-neck sweaters and knit
shirts.» and « Entertainment services in the
nature of baseball games and exhibitions, player and mascot appearances.»
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a US trademark for «PROVIDING OF ENTERTAINMENT AND AMUSEMENT THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF FOOTBALL GAMES RENDERED THROUGH THE MEDIA OF PRESS, RADIO, FILMS, [ VIDEOTAPE ] AND TELEVISION BROADCASTS» -- capitals are theirs.
Giant Snacks of Wahpeton has a federal trademark for Roughrider Sunflower Seeds.
The Dickinson Roughrider Commission has a federal TM for Roughrider Days on baseball caps and hats, as well as button down shirts. They do not disclaim Roughrider used without Days.
UND does have a (North Dakota) state trademark on FORCE OF THE NORTH (THE WORDS IN BLACK CAPITAL LETTERS) WITH "FORCE" ABOVE "NORTH & "OF THE" LAYERED OVER THE "N" OF "NORTH" and has since November 2007. They last renewed their state trademark on FIGHTING SIOUX (THE WORDS) in January 2014.
The federal trademark on Fighting Sioux belongs to Legacy Gear LLC of Tampa (Fla.) for
«Athletic apparel, namely, shirts,
pants, jackets, footwear, hats and caps, athletic uniforms; Athletic
pants; Athletic shirts; Athletic shorts; Athletic skirts; Boxer shorts;
Caps; Caps with visors; Children's and infant's apparel, namely,
jumpers, overall sleepwear, pajamas, rompers and one-piece garments;
Children's and infants' cloth bibs; Children's headwear; Do rags for use
as caps; Fleece bottoms; Fleece pullovers; Fleece shorts; Fleece tops;
Fleece vests; Gloves for apparel; Gym shorts; Head scarves; Headgear,
namely, caps, toques, visors, headbands; Headwear; Hooded sweatshirts;
Jackets and socks; Jerseys; Knitted caps; Men's and women's jackets,
coats, trousers, vests; Mufflers; Panties, shorts and briefs; Polo knit
tops; Polo shirts; Scarves; Shirts for infants, babies, toddlers and
children; Short-sleeved or long-sleeved t-shirts; Short-sleeved shirts;
Shorts; Skullies; Sports jerseys; Sports jerseys and breeches for
sports; Sweat jackets; Sweat shorts; Sweatpants; Sweatshirts; T-shirts» and has since August 6, 2015.
Sources: Trademark search at USPTO and ND.gov . I am a librarian and not a lawyer.