Nike is denied trademark for Bronny James 'b9' logo. Here's why - BERITAJA

Nike has been refused a trademark for Bronny James‘ “b9” logo that appears connected shoes person been worn successful games by the second-year Lakers subordinate and are being sold by the 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 the Back9 Golf Apparel company.

“Applicant’s mark, B9, is confusingly akin to the registered mark, B9,” the refusal missive states. “The marks are akin successful appearance, sound, and commercialized impression. In addition, the marks are fundamentally phonetic equivalents and, thus, sound similar. Similarity successful sound unsocial whitethorn beryllium capable to support a uncovering that the 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 the halfway (where a spread usually would be). The Back9 logo has a superior “B” and a “9” of the aforesaid size adjacent to each other. The logos are successful different fonts.

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

The refusal missive notes the usage of akin aliases identical connection successful the 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 the root of the goods, but to protect the registrant from adverse commercialized effect owed to usage of a akin people by a newcomer,” the missive states. “Therefore, immoderate uncertainty regarding a likelihood of disorder determination is resolved successful favour of the registrant.

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

Nike has until July 13 to entreaty the decision.

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