Nike Is Denied Trademark For Bronny James 'b9' Logo. Here's Why

Nike has been refused a trademark for Bronny James‘ “b9” logo that appears connected shoes person been worn successful games by nan second-year Lakers subordinate and are being sold by nan sports apparel giant.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office notified Nike of its determination pinch a missive of refusal earlier this week, citing “likelihood of confusion” pinch an already-registered people by nan Back9 Golf Apparel company.

“Applicant’s mark, B9, is confusingly akin to nan registered mark, B9,” nan refusal missive states. “The marks are akin successful appearance, sound, and commercialized impression. In addition, nan marks are fundamentally phonetic equivalents and, thus, sound similar. Similarity successful sound unsocial whitethorn beryllium capable to support a uncovering that nan compared marks are confusingly similar.”

Nike did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from The Times.

The James logo features a lowercase “b” pinch a “9” embedded successful nan halfway (where a spread usually would be). The Back9 logo has a superior “B” and a “9” of nan aforesaid size adjacent to each other. The logos are successful different fonts.

In its trademark application, revenge connected Feb. 27, Nike had indicated nan volition of utilizing nan logo connected seemingly each types of diversion apparel, including footwear, headwear, shirts, pants, shorts and jackets. Polo shirts and play caps were listed among nan galore circumstantial examples of imaginable uses.

The refusal missive notes nan usage of akin aliases identical connection successful nan explanation of equipment successful Back9’s trademark application, which was revenge successful May 2021 and approved a twelvemonth later.

“The overriding interest is not only to forestall purchaser disorder arsenic to nan root of nan goods, but to protect nan registrant from adverse commercialized effect owed to usage of a akin people by a newcomer,” nan missive states. “Therefore, immoderate uncertainty regarding a likelihood of disorder determination is resolved successful favour of nan registrant.

“Here, because nan marks are akin and nan equipment are related and/or legally identical, location is simply a likelihood of disorder arsenic to nan root of applicant’s goods, and registration is refused pursuant to Section 2(d) of nan Trademark Act.”

Nike has until July 13 to entreaty nan decision.

The Lakers, seeded No. 4 successful nan Western Conference, commencement their opening-round playoff bid against nan No. 5 Houston Rockets connected Saturday astatine Crypto.com Arena.