A Slurpee Lawsuit: 7-Eleven Tells Nike to Stop Stealing Their Stripes

 

The convenience store chain 7-Eleven has filed a lawsuit against Nike in a Dallas, Texas federal court. This legal action was taken after Nike allegedly copied 7-Eleven's iconic color stripe combination—orange, green, and red—on its latest sneaker model, the Air Max 95.

Adding to the controversy, Nike scheduled the sneaker's release for July 11, a symbolic date that coincides with the annual "7-Eleven Day" celebration and the Free Slurpee Day promotion. 7-Eleven claims that Nike's design constitutes a "confusingly similar imitation" intentionally created to capitalize on their brand recognition. This could mislead consumers into believing the product is an official collaboration, a notion further fueled by media reports describing the shoes as 7-Eleven-inspired.

According to court documents, 7-Eleven states it has used this specific color combination for decades across its storefronts, advertisements, and merchandise, and holds multiple trademark registrations for the design. Before escalating to a lawsuit, 7-Eleven reportedly made repeated attempts to resolve the dispute amicably. However, Nike signaled that it would proceed with the July 11 launch and advertising campaign regardless.

Accusing Nike of showing "malicious intent" and disregarding its rights, 7-Eleven is seeking a court order to block the sale of the sneakers and recall any distributed products. Additionally, the chain is demanding financial damages and all profits Nike generates from the footwear. Nike has not yet issued an immediate response to requests for comment.