Senate Votes to Ban Trademarks at California Parks, After Yosemite Battle

The law would not affect federal landmarks, including those in Yosemite.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The California Senate is backing legislation prohibiting trademark claims at state parks following a dispute that led to renamed landmarks in Yosemite National Park.

Senators unanimously approved AB2249 on Tuesday, sending it back to the Assembly.

The bill would prohibit concessionaires from claiming ownership of a name associated with a California state park. It would not affect federal landmarks, including those in Yosemite.

The Yosemite dispute erupted in 2014, in a story first reported by the East Bay Express, when a recreation company called Delaware North lost its $2 billion contract to run the Ahwahnee Hotel and other park ventures. Yosemite temporarily renamed the Ahwahnee Hotel as the Majestic Yosemite Hotel.

Delaware North says the new concessionaire should have to pay $51 million for several landmark names and other intellectual property. Officials value them at $3.5 million.

NBC Bay Area's Lisa Fernandez contributed to this report.

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