St. John’s University sues NY school over Johnnies name

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The complaint says St. John's University in Queens, New York, recently has been using the trademark Johnnies name on its website and clothing, as well as in marketing materials used to recruit students nationally.

St. John’s University in central Minnesota is suing a New York university of the same name for using its “Johnnies” nickname.

The lawsuit filed this week in federal court in Minnesota says the private Catholic university in Collegeville has been calling its students and athletic teams Johnnies since at least 1900.

The complaint says St. John’s University in Queens, New York, recently has been using the trademark name on its website and clothing, as well as in marketing materials used to recruit students nationally, likely creating confusion.

The complaint says until recent years, St. John’s University in New York only used the term Johnnie or Johnnies to refer to its alum...