Bronny James' application for a trademark on his B9 logo has been denied due to an existing trademark for the same name. This setback comes as he and Nike were seeking to establish the brand.
Lakers' Bronny James applied for a trademark — but was denied for one reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Bronny James and Nike were pursuing a trademark for his B9 logo.
It's been denied.
ESPN's Michael Rothstein reported the news on Tuesday, a bummer bit of news for the Los Angeles Lakers' second-year player who is also the son of the legendary LeBron James.
The problem for Bronny is that there's already a "B9" trademark that exists.
Back9 Golf Apparel is a company in Austin, Texas that already has the trademark under a clothing and apparel application.
That trademark was officially registered in 2022, according to Rothstein.
"The marks are similar in appearance, sound and commercial impression," attorney P. Scott Craven wrote in his refusal letter to Nike, according to ESPN. "In addition, the marks are essentially phonetic equivalents and, thus, sound similar."
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This is what Bronny's logo looks like:
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According to Rothstein, the Back9 logo also has a black background, and it uses an overlapping capital 'B' alongside its 9.
Nike can appeal this ruling, and has three months to do so.
ESPN adds that Nike could ask Back9 to "consent to Nike's usage of the mark," which would then have a chance to override the "likelihood of confusion" ruling made by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
For now, though, no trademark for Bronny's logo.
Bronny James' trademark application was denied because there is already an existing trademark for the name 'B9'.
The B9 logo represents a brand that Bronny James and Nike were looking to establish, highlighting his identity as a player and his connection to the Nike brand.
Bronny James is the son of NBA star LeBron James and plays for the Los Angeles Lakers as a second-year player.
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