Walmart (NYSE: WMT) filed a complaint with the US Patent and Trademark office, regarding the potential logo for Kanye West’s “Yeezy” brand, which it claims resembles its symbol too much. The retailer is concerned that consumers could mix up the “Walmart Spark Design” with the “Yeezy” design.
“As expressed in Walmart’s previous correspondence, Walmart believes the logo design depicted in the Yeezy Application is confusingly similar to Walmart’s well-known spark logo design,” Walmart attorney Erica Goven wrote in a letter to West’s attorneys earlier this month.
Yeezy’s logo is made up of eight three dot marks in a star-like pattern compared to Walmart’s six solid marks in the same star-like pattern, which it has used since 2007. Walmart expressed the “false affiliation” between the brands is likely to “injure and damage” it as well as the “goodwill” linked to its brand.
Nevertheless, Walmart revealed it is open to negotiations with Yeezy in regards to the logo, depending on how they plan to use it.
“As we have previously mentioned, with the little information provided in the intent to use application, it is difficult for Walmart to determine, without more information from Yeezy, how the parties could work together to eliminate confusion,” according to Goven.
“Unfortunately, since Walmart has not received any substantive feedback, in order for Walmart to preserve its rights and protect the Walmart Spark Design, Walmart must move forward in filing a Notice of Opposition against the Yeezy Application. Despite the filing of the Notice of Opposition, we remain hopeful of having productive discussions around Yeezy’s proposed use of the Yeezy Application.”
The rapper’s representatives have yet to comment on the matter.