Regarding the unique retro jersey the Seattle Kraken will don at the much-anticipated NHL Winter Classic, the team is currently being sued.
The sweaters have a striking resemblance to the registered Metropolitans design, according to the man who owns the trademark for the vintage Seattle Metropolitans hockey emblem from the 1917 Championship squad.
Paul Kim is accused in the lawsuit of receiving lowball proposals from the Kraken for the license to market the copyrighted Metropolitans logo and color scheme.According to the lawsuit, Kim turned down every offer, even ones that were far less than market value, before learning that the team would utilize a different design. The lawsuit further asserts that Kim’s business lost at least 2.5 million dollars in sales as a result of the Kraken.
Kim’s lawyer emailed KIRO 7 a statement that included the following:
Given the long history of support the Kraken has received from the Seattle Metropolitans, the team was shocked to learn that the Kraken had copied its well-known trademarks in an apparent attempt to confuse the public, including the city’s ardent hockey fans, and create a false association with its brand.
