Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke is accusing the Department of Interior of "the worst case of federal overreach and predatory litigation by the government" that he's ever seen for accusing a minor league baseball team of trademark infringement.
Zinke made the comment in a press release after bringing up the dispute between the department and the Kalispell-based Glacier Range Riders during a hearing last week with the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
During the exchange, Zinke asked Haaland if she was aware of the dispute to which she replied she was not aware of the specific legal challenge, and then asked her if she thought it was fair to which she replied she could not comment on pending litigation.
The Secretary either has no idea what?s going on in her own department or is allowing the abuse to happen.
Either way, not good. pic.twitter.com/xEa4uwfUOB
— Rep Ryan Zinke (@RepRyanZinke) April 17, 2024
In the case, filed in the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in June 2023, the department argued that the baseball team's new logo along with other rebranding efforts tries to "trade on the goodwill" of the National Park Service.
Attorneys with the department say representatives with the team disclosed through media interviews that they intentionally used the Park Service's logo and Glacier National Park's branding when designing the team's new brand.
In addition to using the Park Service's arrow-head logo, the department alleged the Range Riders use mascots like bears and goats dressed in ranger hats and dark green jackets to "falsely suggest a connection with the Federal Government."
The baseball team denies the government's accusations. In a statement, Chris Kelly, president of the Glacier Range Riders, argued that "the arrowhead represents the strength and resilience of this land."
"We will fight for our ability to use it in our branding to bring together our communities, as well as the ability for it to be freely accessible to other organizations," Kelly said and called the dispute "unfortunate" and "neither for the good or the will of the people."
The Department of Interior alleges that the baseball team, the Glacier Range Riders, are using the arrowhead logo and goat mascot to give the impression that it's affiliated with Glacier National Park. Credit: Glacier Range Riders
Unlike a federal court, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board does not award damages. However, the dispute could cost the baseball team's parent company, Ridge Run Intangibles, up to $500,000 in legal bills.
"This is why people outside the beltway don't trust the bureaucrats inside the beltway. I can tell you that if I was Secretary and this came across my desk, I'd fire the lawyer who thought it was a good use of tax dollars," said Zinke, who served as the Interior Secretary under then-President Trump until he resigned following a series of ethics scandals.
This is not the first time DOI filed legal challenges to protect intellectual property. According to a docket search of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board inquiry system, the department has filed 23 challenges, including the one against the Range Riders, since 1973.
The Glacier Range Riders applied to trademark the logo in January 2022, but it's still considered pending because of the Interior Department's challenge. According to legal documents, the case will be heard by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in May 2025.
Article updated on April 24, 2024, at 12:41 p.m. CST
