'Johnnies' sparks lawsuit challenging its use by St. John's University
Saint John's in Minnesota wants St. John’s University in Queens to stop using "Johnnies." Credit: St. John's University
Saint John’s University in Minnesota is suing St. John’s University in Queens, saying the latter's use of "Johnnie" and "Johnny" is too similar to the former's trademarked nickname, "Johnnies," and could confuse prospective athletes both are vying for.
The suit, filed Wednesday at U.S. District Court in Minnesota, seeks to have St. John’s ordered to stop using "Johnnie" and "Johnny," remove the names from marketing materials, clothing and elsewhere, and pay damages.
There have been similar dust-ups between other institutions of higher education. Baylor University and Boston University earlier this year settled a case over "BU." Michigan's Rochester University agreed in 2024 to change its name after a trademark lawsuit by the University of Rochester. In 2017, South Texas College of Law Houston and the University of Houston settled a lawsuit over rebranding that included allegations of a too-similar red-and-white color scheme.
Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minn., has trademarked "Johnnies" for its school mascot. The school is seeking a federal injunction to block St. John's University in Queens from using the same nickname on its athletic merchandise and digital student portals. Credit: Saint John's Spirit Shop
In the Saint John's vs. St. John's suit, the Minnesota university alleged the infringing uses expanded as the Queens university moved away from variations of "Redmen" due to sensitivities over appropriating Native American symbology. Before the 1920s, the suit says, the Queens university had used "Johnnies" to refer to its sports teams but abandoned it.
Saint John’s, based in Collegeville, Minnesota, has used "Johnnies," the suit says, since at least 1900 and got it trademarked more than a century later, and the Queens university started using the similar names broadly in "recent years," an expansion from prior uses limited to describing alumni. Now the Queens university names its virtual assistant "Johnny," the suit says.
The suit alleges that the Queens university used the slogan in "recruiting efforts and interactions with prospective and new students in the State of Minnesota and surrounding areas" in the Minnesota university's "primary market," which "creates a likelihood of confusion with the SJU Mark in Minnesota and surrounding areas, as well as nationally."
Trademark infringement and unfair competition are among the legal claims.
The suit points to a sampling: "Jumpstart Your Johnnies Journey," "Johnnies Day," "Johnnies Vote," "Johnnies Blog," "Johnnie's Promise," a welcome for "Future Johnnies!"
Brian Browne, the Queens university's spokesperson, declined to comment, and Laura Myers, the lawyer listed in court records for the Minnesota school, did not return voicemails seeking comment.
CBS Sports College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein told Newsday, when asked about the likelihood of recruits mixing up the two universities: "They think it’s going to confuse prospective athletes? It’s unfathomable that this has even become a thing. When people think of the term ‘Johnnies’ in terms of primary places in college sports, that term is only synonymous with St. John's University in New York."
Newsday's Roger Rubin contributed to this story.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
