Nike is back in legal hot water—and this time, it involves 7-Eleven.
The sportswear giant is facing a fresh trademark dispute after convenience store chain 7-Eleven accused Nike of copying its iconic orange, green and red branding for an upcoming Air Max 95 release. The case has quickly sparked online debate, with sneaker fans split between calling it an obvious infringement and dismissing it as an overreaction.
What makes this even more interesting? Many people are comparing it to Nike's 2021 USPS-inspired sneaker controversy, where the brand faced similar criticism over allegedly borrowing from another recognisable design.
Nike Sued by 7-Eleven Over New Shoe Design
7-Eleven has filed a lawsuit against Nike in federal court in Texas, Reuters reported. The convenience store chain claims that the upcoming Air Max 95 uses a colour combination that looks far too close to its signature branding.
At the centre of the dispute is Nike's new Air Max 95 colourway, which features bold orange, green and red stripes. These colours are strongly associated with 7-Eleven's branding for decades.
But it's not just the design causing tension. Nike is reportedly planning to release the trainers on 11 July—better known as 7/11, or '7-Eleven Day.' That annual date is closely tied to the retailer's biggest promotion, including its famous free Slurpee giveaway.
According to the lawsuit, that timing makes the resemblance feel even less accidental.
7-Eleven claims consumers could easily assume the trainers are part of an official collaboration. The retailer is now asking the court to block sales, recall products already distributed, and award damages.
7-Eleven has filed a lawsuit against Nike for its Air Max 95 inspired by the convenience store chain
— Modern Notoriety (@ModernNotoriety) July 2, 2026
The shoe was set to release on 7/11 on SNKRS, though the product page has since been removed from Nike's website pic.twitter.com/CVbAV23Cde
The Air Max Causing All the Drama
The controversial trainer is part of Nike's Air Max 95 Big Bubble line and has already attracted serious attention in sneaker circles.
While Nike has not officially marketed the shoe as a 7-Eleven collaboration, many online immediately made the connection. Sneaker blogs and social media users quickly pointed out the obvious similarities, with some even calling them the '7-Eleven Air Max.'
Trademark disputes often come down to one major question: could consumers reasonably be confused? In this case, 7-Eleven argues the answer is yes.
Déjà Vu? Nike's 2021 USPS Row Returns
This is not Nike's first trademark-related headache.
Back in 2021, Nike faced criticism over its Air Force 1 Experimental Postal Ghost trainers, which many believed looked heavily inspired by USPS packaging.
The shoe featured white, red and blue elements that reminded people of shipping boxes, labels and postal branding. While the USPS publicly clarified that no official collaboration existed, the issue sparked widespread discussion online. No major lawsuit followed, but the backlash was loud.
That's why many sneaker fans see the 7-Eleven case as déjà vu. Once again, Nike is being accused of taking inspiration from a familiar brand identity without making things official.
LIVE via SNKRS in 20mins
— JustFreshKicks (@JustFreshKicks) July 30, 2021
Nike Air Force 1 Experimental 'USPS'
=> https://t.co/YHiIOAg3sg pic.twitter.com/OCL6vdiM9W
Can Brands Really Own Colour Combinations?
That's where opinions get messy. Online reactions have been all over the place.
Some people are siding with 7-Eleven, arguing Nike practically invited legal trouble by choosing those colours and pairing them with a 7/11 release date. One X user wrote: 'Give them a taste of their own medicine. Nike LOVES suing everyone else!'
Others think the lawsuit is excessive. Many critics argue 7-Eleven doesn't own the colour combination. After all, colours appear everywhere.
One comment read: '7-eleven doesn't own color combos.' Another said: 'Ridiculous lawsuit. Maybe if 7-11 sold running shoes, they might have a case, this seems like a reach.'
But trademark law is more complicated than that. Companies can trademark colours—or even colour combinations—if they are strongly associated with a brand and likely to cause consumer confusion. So, this case may be stronger than it first appears.
The bigger issue isn't whether 7-Eleven owns those colours in general. It's whether Nike used them in a way that makes buyers think there's an official connection.
That question could decide everything.
