Nike is in hot water for the upcoming release of its unofficial convenience-store-inspired Air Max 95.
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The sneaker giant has advertised a new Air Max 95 design with a colorway that closely resembles the iconic color pattern of 7-Eleven, and the creators of the Slurpee aren't happy about it.
7-Eleven has previously collaborated with Nike to produce a limited-edition Nike SB Dunk Low. However, the company says Nike's upcoming release, ironically set to debut on July 11, the anniversary of 7-Eleven, is not an official partnership.
For seemingly stealing their swag to sell sneakers, 7-Eleven is taking legal action against the billion-dollar shoe company.
7-Eleven Files Lawsuit Against Nike
According to court documents, 7-Eleven said Nike's upcoming Air Max 95 shoe features a "confusingly similar imitation" of the company's tri-color stripe branding.
Nike has not explicitly advertised that the convenience store influenced the sneaker's creation, but the shoe's color blocking and release date suggest otherwise.
"Nike's infringement is a deliberate and willful effort to associate its footwear with 7-Eleven by copying or imitating the Tri-Color Mark. Nike's misleading practices and misappropriation of 7-Eleven's Tri-Color Mark likely will cause—and indeed already have caused—confusion among the public and likely will deceive consumers as to the Infringing Footwear's source, sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation," 7-Eleven said in the lawsuit.
In a statement, 7-Eleven said, "based on the unauthorized use of our brand along with the impending launch in a matter of days on our birthday, 7-Eleven Day (7/11), we had to act quickly and decisively to protect our brand."
The company is seeking a court order to block Nike from selling the shoe. Plus, the company has requested a recall of any of the sold shoes. It is also seeking monetary damages and Nike's profits from the sale of the shoes.
