Mahomes and Kelce Face Trademark Lawsuit Over ‘1587’ Restaurant
A sneaker company that gained national attention on Shark Tank has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against a restaurant owned by two of the N.F.L.’s biggest stars, setting up a legal clash over a four-digit name: ‘1587.’
The sneaker company, 1587 Sneakers, alleges that a restaurant called ‘1587 Prime,’ opened late last year by Kansas City Chiefs teammates Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, violates its trademark rights.
According to the complaint, which was filed earlier this week, the shoe company began operating under the ‘1587’ name in April 2023 and has since built a growing following. The brand appeared on Shark Tank and, the company says, has developed particular prominence within the Asian community because of the cultural significance associated with the numbers.
The federal lawsuit contends that after the restaurant opened in late 2025, a large number of consumers began contacting the sneaker company to ask whether it was affiliated with the dining venture or its celebrity owners. The company argues that this alleged confusion demonstrates trademark infringement.
A late trademark filing
While 1587 Sneakers began selling footwear in April 2023, it did not file federal trademark applications for ‘1587’ or its logo until October 30, 2025, about a month and a half after the restaurant had opened.
Under U.S. trademark law, federal registration provides a nationwide priority date as of the application filing, assuming the mark ultimately registers. Without that registration, a business must rely on so-called “common law” rights, which are based on actual marketplace use and are generally limited to the geographic areas where the brand has established recognition.
Because the sneaker company’s federal filings came after the restaurant’s launch, a central question in this case will likely be whether the shoe brand can prove it had established sufficient common law rights, as well as the geographic scope in which it had the rights, before the restaurant began operating.
Under US trademark law, identical names can coexist in different industries. Delta Airlines and Delta faucets operate without conflict, while Dove soap and Dove chocolate do the same. In trademark infringement cases, courts often examine whether consumers are likely to believe that the goods or services come from the same company.
In this case, footwear and restaurants appear to occupy distinct commercial spheres. That said, the sneaker company will likely argue that the celebrity status of Mr. Kelce and Mr. Mahomes elevates the risk of confusion, particularly if consumers assume a lifestyle brand expansion.
From my perspective, this case is a textbook example of two core trademark lessons colliding in real time.
First: file trademarks early.
1587 Sneakers operated for roughly 2.5 years before seeking a federal trademark registration.
That delay may now cost it significant leverage in this court case. A federal filing date locks in nationwide priority in a name. Without it, you are left proving your brand exists the hard way, such as through marketing data, sales figures, geographic reach, and consumer testimony.
Second: you cannot own a word—or a number—for everything.
Trademark rights are industry-specific, and identical names routinely coexist across unrelated fields. The real question is whether consumers are likely to believe the sneaker brand suddenly expanded into hospitality.
If this were a small, locally owned restaurant, I doubt we would even be talking about a federal lawsuit. But when the defendants are Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the visibility and the stakes increase dramatically.
This case will most likely end with a settlement, as coexistence agreements are common in cases like this. Creative solutions to lawsuits are possible, and in this case, cross-promotion might benefit both brands.
Ultimately, this dispute underscores what I often tell clients: trademark protection is not automatic. It must be secured strategically and early by filing trademark applications with the USPTO. And even then, it has limits.
Because sometimes, the law requires brands to share.
Josh Gerben, Esq.
Josh Gerben, Esq. is a nationally recognized trademark attorney and the founder of Gerben IP. Since launching the firm in 2008, he has overseen the registration of over 10,000 trademarks and handled over 1,500 trademark disputes. Josh's practice focuses on building and defending global trademark portfolios for clients. These clients include entrepreneurs, private equity-backed businesses, athletes, celebrities, and public companies. Frequently quoted by major media outlets like CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Josh is widely regarded as a leading authority in trademark law.
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