NHLE and the Wild are suing the five-year old Canadian
nature magazine "Wild" over the trademark of the
publication's name, according to Glen McGregor of the
NATIONAL POST. The magazine, aimed at "budding
conservationists" between ages 6-12, was granted the
trademark for its name in '99, after first applying in '95,
and while the name Wild is used for the magazine and
"related education programs," the magazine's owner, the
Canadian Wildlife Federation, has "applied to expand the
trademark." The NHL Wild and NHLE claim the Canadian
government had "no legal right" to grant the trademark to
the magazine, which has a circulation of 10,000 readers and
publishes eight times a year. The NHL states the Federation
"was aware of the prior adoption" of the Wild mark by the
NHL team. The league wants the court to "order" the Canadian
government to "strike out" the trademark. If not, the
magazine "could legally block" the team's sale of Wild
jerseys or other merchandise in Canada, which "could cost
the NHL millions in lost licensing fees." NHL VP/Legal
Affairs Marie Sotis said the league has negotiated with the
federation over the trademark for the past six months and
still hopes to reach a settlement (NATIONAL POST, 7/19).
