St. John’s University Files Federal Lawsuit Over ‘Johnnies’ Nickname
St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, has filed a federal lawsuit against St. John's University in New York, alleging trademark infringement over the nickname 'Johnnies.' The Minnesota institution claims the New York school's use of the nickname creates confusion in…
Fargo Valley City, ND, November 6, 2026 — A federal lawsuit has been filed by St. John’s University, located in Collegeville, Minnesota, against St. John’s University in New York, centering on the alleged trademark infringement of the nickname ‘Johnnies.’ The Minnesota-based institution claims that the New York university’s use of the common nickname is causing confusion.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, asserts that the parallel usage of the ‘Johnnies’ nickname by both institutions creates significant confusion across multiple operational areas. According to the filing, these areas include prospective student recruitment, intercollegiate athletics programs, and the sale of branded merchandise. The Minnesota university is seeking legal action to compel the New York university to cease its use of the nickname.
Details regarding the specific date the lawsuit was filed were not immediately available in the provided summary. Similarly, the legal representatives for either institution were not specified. The trend summary did not provide further details on the exact nature of the confusion or specific examples of merchandise that may be contributing to the alleged infringement.
St. John’s University of Minnesota aims to resolve the dispute through legal channels, requesting that the court prohibit the New York university from continuing to use the ‘Johnnies’ moniker. The outcome of the lawsuit remains pending, as the legal process unfolds.
Story summarized from the original created by Andy Rennecke on www.inforum.com, see more information here.
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