US Patent Office denies A’s trademark applications for ‘Las Vegas Athletics’

Two years ahead of their move to Nevada, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the A's' request to trademark the names "Las Vegas Athletics" and "Vegas Athletics."

The A's were told the nickname "Athletics" was too generic and could be confused with other activities, even if associated with Las Vegas. That, however, has been the club's nickname since the Philadelphia Athletics began playing in 1901.

The club has three months from when the refusals were issued Dec. 29 to ask for...