7-Eleven sues Nike over Air Max 95 design tied to its orange, green and red “tri-color” marks

7-Eleven has filed a federal lawsuit against Nike, accusing the sportswear company of copying the convenience retailer’s distinctive orange, green and red stripe design for an upcoming Air Max 95 sneaker, according to court-related reporting. The lawsuit was filed in the District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.

In its complaint, 7-Eleven says the Nike shoes feature orange, green and red stripes that resemble color combinations used in several 7-Eleven trademarks. The chain frames the dispute as a trademark problem, not a general style issue, arguing that shoppers could be confused about the source of the footwear and that the sneaker could dilute the distinctiveness of 7-Eleven’s marks.

The litigation centers on what 7-Eleven calls its “tri-color mark,” which the company says it has used in combination across trademarks for nearly 60 years. 7-Eleven also alleges it has applied the design on consumer goods and branded merchandise, including apparel and footwear, and points to brand partnerships in that category as part of its effort to show the mark’s established presence.

A key element of 7-Eleven’s argument is timing, the reported filings say. 7-Eleven claims Nike’s initial release date for the sneakers, July 11, coincides with “7-Eleven Day,” and it argues that the date underscores intent to associate the product with the retailer’s brand.

The suit alleges trademark infringement and dilution, and also asserts violations under the Lanham Act, the main U.S. federal law governing trademarks, along with Texas law. 7-Eleven is seeking an injunction aimed at preventing Nike from marketing, distributing or selling shoes that use or bear confusingly similar imitations of the tri-color mark, as well as related requested relief described in the filing.

Nike has not been described as having issued a public response in the reporting used for this story. Under U.S. trademark practice, the case will turn on issues such as how similar the designs are in overall commercial appearance, whether consumers are likely to be confused, and whether 7-Eleven can show the tri-color configuration has acquired distinctiveness and is protectable in the way it claims.

For Nike, the dispute arrives as it continues to rely on sneaker franchises that tend to generate high consumer interest and fast-moving demand. The Air Max line, including the Air Max 95 model cited in the reporting, is a recognizable platform for limited colorways and marketing drops. For 7-Eleven, the case highlights an effort to protect brand identifiers that go beyond logos, focusing instead on a specific multi-color pattern tied to decades of retail presence.

For 7-Eleven, the complaint also underscores how trademark enforcement can extend into unexpected categories. Color-based claims are difficult to win in the abstract, but the company is arguing that its orange, green and red combination functions as a source identifier, backed by long use and trademark registrations referenced in the reporting. The retailer is also leaning on the fact that it has previously put its distinctive colors on footwear and related products, which it says reinforces public association.