7-Eleven Sues Nike Over Air Max 95 Trademark

The convenience store chain 7-Eleven has filed a federal lawsuit against Nike, alleging the sportswear giant intentionally designed and timed a sneaker release to mimic its brand identity and capitalize on its annual Free Slurpee Day promotion. The lawsuit was filed on July 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas.

At the heart of the complaint is an upcoming Air Max 95 sneaker colorway scheduled for release on July 11, which 7-Eleven treats as its annual "7-Eleven Day" featuring the Free Slurpee promotion. The retailer alleges the shoe's design uses a specific stripe pattern in orange, green, and red, colors long associated with 7-Eleven's "Tri-Color Mark" used on storefronts, merchandise, and apparel for decades.

7-Eleven contends that Nike's combination of this color scheme and the July 11 launch date is not coincidental. The 27-page complaint argues that the timing, color placement, and surrounding marketing create the false impression that 7-Eleven authorized, sponsored, or collaborated on the sneaker release. The company says it attempted to resolve the dispute before filing suit but claims Nike intended to proceed with the launch.