### Oakland Athletics' Move to Las Vegas Faces Legal Hurdles Amid Trademark Denial The Oakland Athletics, a Major League Baseball franchise with over a century of history, are facing significant legal challenges as they prepare for their controversial relocation to Las Vegas. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has denied the team's attempts to trademark the names "Las Vegas Athletics" and "Vegas Athletics," citing the term "Athletics" as too generic and potentially confusing with other activities. This setback comes just two years before their planned first game in Las Vegas, raising questions about the franchise's branding and future in the city [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/mlb/article-15440679/oakland-athletics-las-vegas-trademark-chaos.html][https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/athletics-denied-vegas-trademark-due-031515985.html]. ### Breakdown of the Current Situation 1. **Trademark Denial**: The USPTO ruled that the name "Athletics" is too generic, which complicates the team's branding efforts in Las Vegas [https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/as-relocation-hits-speedbump-with-trademark-denial-for-las-vegas-athletics]. 2. **Historical Context**: Despite the franchise's long history and previous successful trademark registrations for other city names, the current application was judged on its own merits, leading to the denial [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/report_trademark_application_denied_for_las_vegas_athletics/s1_17044_43295498]. 3. **Future Implications**: The denial does not jeopardize the relocation itself, but it does create uncertainty regarding the team's branding and marketing strategies in Las Vegas [https://frontofficesports.com/why-the-as-hit-a-legal-snag-trademarking-their-las-vegas-name]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Trademark Applications**: The Athletics submitted applications for "Las Vegas Athletics" and "Vegas Athletics," both of which were denied on December 29, 2025 [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/athletics_run_into_unexpected_roadblock_in_las_vegas_move/s1_13132_43293042]. - **Legal Opinions**: Trademark attorney Josh Gerben noted that the term "Athletics" could apply to various athletic activities, making it difficult to secure exclusive rights [https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athletics/athletics-las-vegas-trademark-process-hits-snag-3604519]. - **Franchise History**: The Athletics have previously secured trademarks for their names in Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Oakland, but each application is evaluated independently [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/athletics-denied_trademark_for_their_own_name_ahead_of_move_to_las_vegas/s1_17044_43293042]. ### Conclusion and Next Steps In summary, the Oakland Athletics' planned move to Las Vegas is encountering significant legal challenges due to the denial of their trademark applications. This situation can be summarized as follows: 1. **Legal Setback**: The USPTO's denial of the trademark applications poses a branding challenge for the Athletics as they prepare for their relocation. 2. **Historical Context**: The franchise's long history does not guarantee trademark approval, as each application is assessed on its own merits. 3. **Future Considerations**: While the relocation is not in jeopardy, the team must navigate these legal hurdles to establish a strong brand identity in Las Vegas. The Athletics will need to explore alternative branding strategies as they move forward with their relocation plans [https://www.fox41yakima.com/athletics-baseball-move-to-las-vegas-hits-trademark-snag].