Red Bull Formula One driver Max Verstappen has faced a setback in his plans to launch his own clothing brand after Nike blocked the use of the “Max 1” name.
The Dutchman has collaborated with several clothing brands on different occasions, including G-Star RAW, which released a limited edition Max Verstappen collection in 2020. Puma, Jumbo Supermarkets, and Red Bull Racing are just a few of the companies that have sponsored his athletic endeavors.
The current F1 champion was keen on releasing his own clothing brand named “Max 1.” However, the use of “Max 1” has been contested by Nike, which owns the trademark for the Air Max 1 shoe. Nike has expressed concerns that the use of the name could cause confusion among consumers and dilute the value of its own trademark.
Nike’s investigation and opposition have been confirmed in a report by the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP), the regional trademark agency. The justifications for the opposition are enumerated there as well. It seems that the problem is more fundamental than just the brand’s name.
š°: Max Verstappen's plan to launch his own clothing brand, 'Max 1', has hit a roadblock with Nike opposing the name due to similarities with their Air Max range. The Benelux Office for Intellectual Property has issued a report confirming Nike's opposition, stating that there isā¦ pic.twitter.com/xw3022ltWq
— F1 Naija š³š¬ (@f1_naija) March 25, 2023
What does the report from BOIP state?
“Both signs contain the word MAX, albeit in a different place. In the trademarks invoked, the elements AIR and MAX have equal weight in the overall impression. In the contested sign, the emphasis is on the word MAX. The number 1 will be regarded as a specification of MAX. To that extent, the signs agree,” the report states.
“The goods in question (Nike and Max) are partly identical and partly similar. Visually and aurally, there is a certain degree of similarity between the signs.”
āSince it is common practice in the clothing sector for the same mark to be configured in different ways, the relevant public might also think that the contested sign is a sub-mark of the opponent.ā
Thereās an easy way around this: Just change the name to āMax 1**ā. š¤·š»āāļø
Clear differentiation, more accurate and, the ** can also refer to small print where Nike can be clear that thereās zero association with then. Sorted šš» #F1 #HumanErrorChampion https://t.co/pP0t7j2mwE
— Rob Myers (@RobLMyers) March 26, 2023
Verstappen’s team at Red Bull has not made any comment on the situation, but it is understood that the driver is exploring his options for moving forward with the brand. The launch of the Max 1 line was originally planned for later this year. As things stand, it is now unclear when or if the brand will be able to launch under that name.
