Two schools with nearly identical names are now fighting over one very specific nickname. And in Minnesota, Saint John’s says that nickname has belonged to its campus for well over a century.
Why the Minnesota school says the name matters
Saint John’s University in Collegeville filed its complaint on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, arguing that New York’s St. John’s University is creating confusion by using JOHNNIES, Johnnie, and Johnny. The Minnesota school says that confusion affects recruiting, athletics, and merchandise sold across state lines.
According to the complaint, Saint John’s has continuously used JOHNNIES for its students and athletic teams since at least Sept. 1, 1900. The filing says the name appears on athletic uniforms, printed materials, branded merchandise, the school website, and recruitment materials distributed nationally.
The complaint also stresses that Saint John’s is not just a local school. While it mainly serves Minnesota and nearby states, the filing says recent first-year classes included students from New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, California, and Washington.
What the lawsuit says New York changed
The Minnesota filing says the New York school’s broader use of Johnnies is a recent development. It points to examples on websites, social media, clothing, and recruiting materials, including a virtual assistant named Johnny and phrases like “Jumpstart Your Johnnies Journey,” “Johnnies Day,” “Johnnies Vote,” “Johnnies Blog,” and “Johnnies Promise.”
The complaint contrasts that with New York’s athletic naming history. It says St. John’s teams were known as the Redmen beginning in the 1920s, then changed to Red Storm in 1994, and later added a Thunderbird mascot in 2009 that was eventually named Johnny Thunderbird.
Minnesota’s filing argues that any earlier New York use of Johnnie or Johnnies was minimal and mostly aimed at alumni. It specifically cites a first “Johnnies Day” in 2023 and a 2026–27 men’s golf schedule post saying “The Johnnies” would play 12 tournaments in 10 states, including Hawaii and California.
What Saint John’s wants the court to do
The trademark timeline is a big part of the case. The complaint says the Order of St. Benedict applied for the trademark on Oct. 24, 2003, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued the registration on Oct. 12, 2004, and the mark was assigned to Saint John’s on Sept. 7, 2012.
The filing says Saint John’s sent a cease-and-desist letter on May 13 to St. John’s University Vice President and General Counsel Terryl L. Brown. According to the complaint, the letter demanded that New York stop using the mark, remove it from websites and materials, and sign a written agreement.
Now Saint John’s wants a jury trial and a permanent order blocking New York from using JOHNNIES and similar marks for education, athletics, merchandise, and related activities. The lawsuit also seeks removal of the disputed material within 30 days of any court order, plus profits, damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, interest, and a finding that the conduct was willful. New York’s response was not included in the filing.
