Design Dispute Turns Ugly: Messi and Paul Engage in Legal Battle
A Tale of Two Brands: Mas+ and Prime
Last year, legendary footballer Lionel Messi launched his drinks brand Mas+, which many claimed bore a striking resemblance to the hydration drink, Prime. While Messi’s beverage caught some shady flack from Prime’s co-founder KSI, who claimed it "looks familiar," it was Mas+ that sued Prime for “anti-competitive” behavior last October, alleging that the YouTuber-backed brand was pressuring it to change its packaging design.
The Legal Battle Escalates
Now, in the most YouTuber-turned-boxer-turned-business-mogul move possible, Prime co-founder Logan Paul has challenged the sports star to a boxing match to settle the legal woes. While Prime has countersued Mas+, Logan claims he’ll "consider dropping" the claim if the pair can settle the conflict in the ring – any excuse for a marketing opportunity, I guess.
The Design Dilemma
When Mas+ hit the shelves back in June, its similarities to Prime were hard to ignore, with its bottle designs, text composition, and color schemes bearing a striking resemblance to the popular hydration drink. While Mas+ was the first to strike out with a legal claim back in October, Prime counter-sued with claims that the design violated its trademarks.
The Unconventional Settlement
In a TikTok video, Logan called out the football legend, claiming "You guys copied us and everybody saw it. […] That’s why we countersued, obviously we were going to. If you can’t beat the best, you have to be the best, but that’s illegal, that’s our design and we’re defending ourselves."
Always poised for a golden marketing opportunity, Logan went on to suggest an unconventional settlement, swapping the courtroom for the ring. "All jokes aside, I will consider dropping this if Logan Paul vs Messi [happens in] 2025. I’ll see you in the ring, brother,” he claimed.
Conclusion
It remains to be seen whether the dueling duo will take to the ring, but Logan Paul’s dedication to turning even the most serious design disputes into golden marketing opportunities is (regretfully) commendable. This isn’t the first time the brand has been in a legal dispute – last year the Olympic committee sued Prime over its packaging design (although matters seemed to be settled conventionally).
FAQs
Q: What is the main issue between Mas+ and Prime?
A: The main issue is the alleged similarities in design between the two brands, with Mas+ claiming Prime is pressuring it to change its packaging design.
Q: Is this the first time Prime has been in a legal dispute?
A: No, last year the Olympic committee sued Prime over its packaging design, although the matter was reportedly settled conventionally.
Q: Will the boxing match between Messi and Paul actually happen?
A: It’s unclear, but Logan Paul has expressed his willingness to settle the conflict in the ring, and Messi has yet to respond to the challenge.
