After the Eric Koston Air Max gained strong traction among skateboarders and ongoing tensions surfaced involving Lord Williams, Nike is now facing another legal issue after 7-Eleven filed a trademark infringement lawsuit over the Air Max 95 Big Bubble “Sport Green and Safety Orange.”
While the shoe is not part of an official collaboration, the convenience store chain claims the design borrows too heavily from its well known branding, creating confusion among consumers.
According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas, 7-Eleven argues that the Air Max 95 uses a red, green, and orange color arrangement that closely resembles the company's trademarked branding. The shoe had been scheduled to release on July 11, the same date as 7-Eleven Day and the company's annual Free Slurpee Day promotion, adding another point raised in the complaint.
The lawsuit also points to other details that it says reference the convenience store chain. Those include artwork inside the shoe that resembles stocked store shelves, along with Nike's product description mentioning a walk to the corner store. 7-Eleven claims these elements could lead buyers to believe the sneaker has some type of official connection or endorsement even though no partnership was announced.
Court documents state that 7-Eleven contacted Nike several times before deciding to file the lawsuit, claiming it attempted to settle the issue without taking legal action. The company accuses Nike of intentionally using its recognizable branding and alleges the footwear giant acted with malicious intent and knowingly ignored its trademark rights.
The case has also drawn attention because Nike remains one of the biggest names in skate shoes through its Nike SB division. Even though this lawsuit centers on an Air Max 95 instead of a Nike SB model, it still puts one of skateboarding's largest footwear companies in the middle of another major legal dispute.
Ironically, Nike and 7-Eleven nearly worked together in the past. Back in 2020, the companies had planned to release an official 7-Eleven x Nike SB Dunk Low. The project was canceled after the Tokyo Summer Olympics were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
Now, 7-Eleven is asking the court to stop Nike from distributing, marketing, or selling the Air Max 95. The company is also seeking financial damages, reimbursement for legal costs, and an order requiring any remaining pairs and related promotional materials to be destroyed.
As the lawsuit became public, the Air Max 95 Big Bubble disappeared from Nike's SNKRS app, suggesting the planned release may have been put on hold. The news also had an immediate effect on the resale market, with asking prices climbing quickly as collectors reacted to the uncertainty surrounding the sneaker's future.
Nike has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.