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Demand from NikeZurich sneaker store has to change name and throw away material
Because the name of a Nike app and that of the “SNKRZH” business were too similar, Nike lawyers sent it a letter. The people of Zurich cannot afford a legal dispute.
The setback followed in August: the US conglomerate Nike accused the company of trademark infringement. (icon picture)
imago images/Levine-Roberts
Because they can’t afford litigation, they may have to change the name of their store.
instagram/snkrzh.ch
That’s what it’s regarding
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The two young entrepreneurs founded their brand SNKRZH in December 2021 and opened their first shop in May.
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Then in August the damper: Nike accuses the company of trademark infringement.
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The name SNKRZH is too similar to a Nike product.
It was not until May 2022 that the two young Zurich entrepreneurs Kuvet Salahi and Almaf Spahiu fulfilled their dream of opening their own sneaker business – «SNKRZH». In the first few months everything seemed to be going smoothly. In August, however, the damper followed: In a registered letter from a Zurich law firm, the owners were informed that the US conglomerate Nike was accusing their sneaker store of trademark infringement «Watson» in an article.
With the so-called “SNKRS app”, Nike offers a platform on which customers are informed regarding exclusive Nike products and launches. According to the international shoe manufacturer, the name SNKRZH would cause confusion with their product SNKRS and might damage their reputation.
They cannot afford to take Nike to court
A huge disappointment for Salahi and Spahiu: The Nike lawyers demanded that the SNKRZH trademark be deleted. In addition, the entrepreneurs would have to assure Nike in writing that they would never use the name once more, change the lettering on the shop front and dispose of their merchandise. The two would also have to delete their Tiktok videos, Salahi told Watson.
Going to court once morest the big company Nike is not an option for the two people from Zurich. That was too expensive and their legal protection insurance would not cover the case because they had registered the name without their company.
The people of Zurich are currently examining a new name, this time together with a lawyer. Because they don’t want to mess it up with Nike: “It would be cool to work with Nike and maybe one day become an exclusive partner in Switzerland.”
