St. John’s University in central Minnesota sues New York school over ‘Johnnies’ nickname

St. John’s University in central Minnesota is suing a New York university of the same name for using its “Johnnies” nickname.

The lawsuit filed this week in federal court in Minnesota says the private Catholic university in Collegeville has been calling its students and athletic teams Johnnies since at least 1900.

The complaint says St. John’s University in Queens, New York, recently has been using the trademark name on its website and clothing, as well as in marketing materials used to recruit students nationally, likely creating confusion.

The complaint says until recent years, St. John’s University in New York only used the term Johnnie or Johnnies to refer to its alumni. The school’s previous nickname was “Redmen,” which was later changed to “Red Storm.”

In 2009, the university unveiled a new mascot, Johnny Thunderbird. The lawsuit says the New York university now uses the Johnnies name on print and digital marketing materials, clothing and on its website.

St. John’s University in Minnesota argues that using the name is a trademark infringement and is likely creating confusion among prospective and current students, alumni, sports fans and the public.

The complaint says St. John’s sent a cease-and-desist letter to the New York university in May, demanding that it remove all unauthorized uses of the name, but the school has failed to comply.

The lawsuit asks the court to stop the New York school from using the name, and award damages.

Spokespeople for both universities declined to comment on the pending litigation.

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