What was filed

The case is MSG Knicks, LLC v. Does 1-100, No. 1:26-cv-09728 (S.D.N.Y.), filed November 5, 2026, ECF No. 1 (28 pages). The caption names MSG Knicks, LLC, formerly MSG Sports, LLC, and New York Knicks, LLC as plaintiffs, and John Does 1-100, Jane Does 1-100, and XYZ Companies 1-100 as defendants. The complaint says New York Knicks, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company that owns the New York Knicks NBA team and the KNICKS, NEW YORK KNICKS, and NYK marks, and that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of MSG Knicks. It says the defendants' identities are not presently known and that the complaint will be amended when they are identified. The docket also shows a civil cover sheet, a Rule 7.1 disclosure statement, a proposed order to show cause without emergency relief, a memorandum of law, and supporting declarations filed the same day. On November 6, 2026, the docket shows a case-opening initial assignment notice, a request for issuance of summons, and the AO 120 patent and trademark report form. The docket record lists the case as assigned to District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.

The marks

The complaint points to Schedule A for New York Knicks, LLC federal registrations and applications for the KNICKS Trademarks. USPTO TSDR records list, among others, U.S. Reg. No. 866,661 for KNICKERBOCKERS (live service mark, registered March 11, 1969), U.S. Reg. No. 1,768,640 for KNICKS (live, registered May 4, 1993), U.S. Reg. No. 2,188,043 for a jersey and shorts design (live, registered September 8, 1998), U.S. Reg. No. 2,197,935 for NEW YORK KNICKS (live, registered October 20, 1998), and U.S. Reg. No. 2,856,171 for a design mark (live, registered June 22, 2004), each currently owned by New York Knicks, LLC. Schedule A also lists U.S. Reg. No. 4,099,180, registered February 14, 2012, for Class 25 clothing.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint alleges, on information and belief, that the Doe and XYZ defendants were present at and around Madison Square Garden during Knicks home games on October 12, 15, 20, 25, and 27 and November 2, 2026, and that they will again be present around upcoming home games, including November 10 and 11, 2026. It also alleges, on information and belief, that the defendants have engaged and will continue to engage in the unauthorized manufacture, distribution, and sale of inferior merchandise bearing the KNICKS Trademarks in the vicinity of the arena during the 2026-2027 season. The complaint says a lead investigator for MSG Knicks and members of his security team observed and photographed at least seven individuals selling bootleg merchandise at each of those six games (at least twelve on October 25) and obtained samples, and it alleges that the bootleg goods are sold in direct competition with the T-shirts, jerseys, sweatshirts, hats, and other merchandise the plaintiffs sell at home games.

The counts are federal trademark counterfeiting under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114-1117; federal unfair competition and false designation of origin under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) together with federal trademark dilution under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c); unfair competition; and violation of New York General Business Law § 349. The prayer asks for a preliminary injunction during the litigation and a permanent injunction during the 2026-2027 season against manufacturing, distributing, selling, offering, holding for sale, or advertising products bearing the trademarks or representing that defendants' merchandise is sponsored or authorized by plaintiffs; authorization for marshals, police, and plaintiffs' agents to seize bootleg merchandise near the arena during Knicks games that season; delivery up for destruction of bootleg merchandise; damages; and treble damages, costs, and attorneys' fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1117.