Kalispell, Montana — After years of confusion and litigation, a professional baseball team has been able to strike out a lawsuit it faced from the National Park Service.
Last week, the Glacier Range Riders announced the National Park Service had dropped its complaint against the baseball team.
The team, which was created in 2022, filed trademarks for its logos, which included the white arrowhead emblem (pictured above). In October 2022, the National Park Service took legal action against the Glacier Range Riders over the shape of one of their logos, due to it bearing some resemblance to the National Park Service’s emblem. They continued to pursue legal action after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) accepted the Range Rider’s logo. It should be noted that other teams and groups use an arrowhead as their logo, with the most notable one being the Kansas City Chiefs.
“The case was resolved with prejudice in our favor, meaning that our use of the arrowhead shape does not imply any affiliation with the National Park Service,” a representative from the Range Riders told the Daily Montanan.
In the press release, the Range Riders thanked fans, the local community, and public officials, like Congressman Ryan Zinke, for their support throughout the costly and time-consuming ordeal.
“This was an important fight, not only for securing our right to the arrowhead logo, but also ensuring this universal symbol remains open for others to use,” said Chris Kelly, President of the baseball team. “With the withdrawal of the NPS claim, we’re free to focus on what matters most – bringing families together, creating lasting memories, and celebrating the region’s rich heritage through the game of baseball.”
Created in 2022, the Glacier Range Riders are part of the Pioneer League, which is affiliated with MLB. The Pioneer is one of MLB’s Partner Leagues, which is a set of professional baseball leagues. They play in Glacier Bank Park, which opened in 2022. It’s a beauty, and it was even voted the 2023 Ballpark of the Year by BaseballParks.com and USA Today. The Range Riders’ season kicks off today, May 20th, against the Great Falls Voyagers.
Image/Video Credits: Glacier Range Riders, NBC Montana, Glacier Bank Park
