Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are embroiled in a legal dispute concerning their Kansas City steakhouse, known as 1587 Prime. A sneaker company, 1587 Sneakers, has filed a lawsuit claiming that the restaurant”s name infringes on its trademark and could create confusion among consumers.
The lawsuit, which also involves their restaurant partner Noble 33, asserts that the branding of 1587 Prime overlaps with the sneaker brand, which began selling shoes in April 2023. Similar to a recent case involving Taylor Swift”s logo and her Swift Home brand, the sneaker company argues that their brand identity could be compromised by the restaurant”s name. Although the complaint does not accuse Mahomes and Kelce of any wrongdoing, it highlights the potential for customer confusion.
The timeline of events reveals that while 1587 Prime registered its trademark in December 2023, 1587 Sneakers applied for its trademark in October 2023 after launching its shoe line earlier that year. Legal analysts suggest that while trademarks can coexist in separate industries, issues arise when products begin to overlap—particularly since 1587 Prime offers not only food but also clothing and merchandise.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who is not involved in the case, noted the pivotal concern: “Given that the marks are essentially identical here, is a restaurant and a shoe company too close? Are consumers likely to be confused in thinking they are affiliated with one another?” His comments underscore the complexities present in trademark law.
The sneaker company claims that numerous consumers have reached out, mistakenly believing that 1587 Sneakers and 1587 Prime are connected. While no concrete evidence supporting this assertion has been publicly disclosed, it may play a crucial role if the case proceeds to trial.
Adam King, co-founder of 1587 Sneakers, indicated a desire to resolve the matter amicably, expressing that while the company initially sought mutual understanding, they now feel compelled to pursue legal action. The plaintiffs are demanding that the restaurant group cease using the 1587 name for both food and merchandise, in addition to seeking unspecified damages.
Representatives for Mahomes have not made any public comments, while Kelce”s publicist declined to provide a statement. The legal framework allows for anyone who believes their trademark rights have been infringed to file a claim, which means Mahomes and Kelce can be sued in this instance. However, the outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain.
Trademark law typically permits identical marks to coexist within different sectors, such as restaurants and footwear, due to the low likelihood of consumer confusion. This case is complicated by 1587 Prime also selling branded clothing, which aligns more closely with the sneaker company”s offerings. Courts will evaluate the likelihood of confusion, the strength of the original mark, and who was the first to use the trademark.
Though success for the plaintiffs isn”t guaranteed, if 1587 Sneakers prevails, the financial repercussions for Mahomes and Kelce could be significant. Damages for trademark infringement often encompass lost profits, earnings by the infringing party, and sometimes statutory penalties. In a high-profile case like this, damages could realistically reach amounts between £500,000 ($620,000) to £1 million ($1.24 million) or more, particularly considering the restaurant”s merchandise and the potential confusion with the sneaker line. Legal fees could also escalate to between £100,000 ($124,000) and £200,000 ($248,000). A ruling against the NFL stars could have serious implications for their business interests and public images.
