7-Eleven Sues Baltimore Business Named 7-Even
A Baltimore, Maryland convenience store is now facing the inconvenience of a multi-million dollar lawsuit. The owner of the nationwide chain of 7-Eleven stores has sued a store that calls itself 7-Even for using a name and logo similar to its own, infringing on its trademark.
The owner of 7-Even, who has owned the store for two years, says it was not his intention to imitate 7-Eleven.
It will be up to the courts to determine whether the similarity is intentional or purely accidental. If there was intent, a court may be more likely to find that there was infringement. In addition, the stronger a trademark is, the more likely a court is to grant it protection. 7-Eleven is a very well-known and well-established mark.
A spokesperson for 7-Eleven declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, other than to say that the company felt obligated to protect its trademarks and its brand.
According to the lawsuit, 7-Eleven also alleges that 7-Even has stolen the name Slurpee for its slushy drinks, but 7-Even denies this. According to reports, the convenience store’s slushy machine appears to be a generic model, with no mention of 7-Eleven’s Slushy name.
7-Eleven claims that the use of the name “7-Even” leads to confusion among customers. Some patrons of 7-Even agree. While proof of consumer confusion is not always necessary to win a trademark case, it can be strong evidence that infringement has occurred.
Faced with the costly litigation, the owner of 7-Even has said he will change the store’s name if 7-Eleven will drop the lawsuit.
Trademark disputes are just one of many legal problems businesses face, whether they are established businesses or newcomers. Whether you are trying to protect your intellectual property or defend your business against competitors, the experienced Bethesda and Rockville, Maryland commercial litigation lawyers at Longman Van Grack can help. Our trial attorneys have experience handling all types of business disputes and can help you gain the upper hand, in or out of court. To schedule a consultation, call us today at (301) 291-5027.
