All Sports Television Network and Its Founder in Dispute with HBO Over Use of "MAX"

Nov 14, 2023

Media giant attempts to block trademark of All Sports television series.

DETROIT - Nov. 14, 2023 - PRLog -- Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO) filed a "Notice of Opposition" against the "Racemax" trademark, which was filed by All Sports Television Network founder Roger Neal Smith. The trademark filed by Smith was researched and approved by the trademark office's attorney for publication. HBO filed an opposition to the filing, claiming HBO has exclusive rights to the word "Max".

In February 2023, Smith filed two trademarks using the name "Racemax". One trademark was for a television series appearing on the All Sports Television Network (All Sports). The other trademark was for a line of apparel. HBO filed an opposition to block the use of both trademarks. The broadcast giant claims that since it owns trademarks "Cinemax", "HBO Max", "Moremax", "Actionmax", "Thrillermax", "5 Starmax", "Outermax", and "Moviemax", All Sports' use of the word "Max" will cause confusion with their brand.

When researching all HBO trademarks, "Cinemax" is the only name trademarked for clothing. There currently exists 170 trademarks registered in the U.S. that contain the word "Max". This includes Ford Motor Company's "C-Max", Nike's "Air Max", and Victoria's Secret's "Angel Max". Yet, HBO is using their vast financial resources to block Smith's "Racemax" clothing trademark as well.

"HBO's claim to the exclusive use of the word 'Max' with anything related to broadcasting is totally ludicrous," stated Roger Neal Smith, All Sports president and founder. Having filed numerous trademarks previously, I am aware that attorneys at the trademark office are very thorough in checking for marks that are conflicting with one another. The fact that the attorney assigned to review our trademark applications confirmed that 'Racemax' was not in conflict with any other marks is further evidence that HBO has no special claim on the word. HBO's assertion that it has exclusive use of the word 'Max' when combined with any other word related to film, television, and clothing makes absolutely no sense.

I have researched and identified 128 entertainment-related trademarks containing the word 'Max' that are currently registered in the U.S., which include 'Newsmax', 'Imax', and 'Movies to the Max'. It is obvious that HBO is simply trying to intimidate and bully me and All Sports. Initially, HBO attorneys tried intimidating me by sending threatening letters. When that did not work, they decided to officially file an opposition with the trademark office.

Our television series 'Racemax' has been running for three years. To date, we have aired the series more than 1,000 times without any notification that we were infringing on an HBO trademark. Now, all of a sudden, HBO asserts that we should not be using the word 'Max'.

I cannot and will not simply roll over and quit just because a multi-billion-dollar company decides that I cannot use a word that I have the legitimate right to use. If I allow this to happen, any time we decide to create a television program or a clothing product, I will have to first contact Casey Bloys, HBO's CEO, for his permission and blessing."

About All Sports Television Network

The All Sports Television Network is a national sports network created for American broadcast television. It features sports and sports-related programming covering both traditional and non-traditional sporting events across the globe. The company strives to provide viewers with interesting and exciting programs to watch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and to provide the public with the opportunity to experience sporting events of which they were unaware.

Media Contact
Roger Neal Smith
[email protected]
747-234-7902

Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)

Source: All Sports Television Network

Read Full Story - All Sports Television Network and Its Founder in Dispute with HBO Over Use of "MAX" | More news from this source

Press release distribution by PRLog

More News

Sep 19, 2026

A Polish priest’s perilous mission to save a doomed Chinese dynasty with Catholic links

I spent a week in Warsaw and ate more pierogi than I could shake a stick at. These beloved traditional Polish dumplings come filled with potatoes, cheese, meat, mushrooms and even fruit. Boiled or fried, they may look familiar to anyone acquainted with jiaozi, the Chinese dumpling, although their flavours are distinctly Polish. This is not to suggest that dumplings travelled directly from China to Poland. One theory posits that dumpling-like foods – from Nepalese momo and Central Asian and...

Sep 18, 2026

How much sex should a couple have? Focus on quality over quantity, experts say

Recently, an acquaintance told me about her brother’s marriage break-up. “They had sex once in eight years,” she said – as if that were the sole reason. It would not have been: the couple’s collapsing relationship was the reason. The absence of sex – except for that single occasion in eight years – was a symptom that likely made it worse. It raises the question, though: is there a sweet spot for sex in a relationship? How many times a week or a month should we be “doing it” to keep a...

Sep 18, 2026

9 Philippine hotels awarded Michelin Keys in 2026, up from 5 in 2025

From five Michelin Key hotels last year to 9 in 2026, the new selection added to the Michelin Key list is proof of hospitality excellence

Sep 18, 2026

Australian athlete who soiled herself apologizes for continuing Hyrox race

Joanna Wietrzyk finished the Hyrox race last weekend with excrement on her legs and shoes, continuing to use the mats and equipment

Sep 18, 2026

Clara Benin shares love’s soft moments in Scout’s The Listening Party

Clara Benin talks about her recent “Really Got Me Thinking” EP tour and what’s coming next

Sep 18, 2026

The live concerts to watch out for: From Bruno Mars to BigBang

Six live events featuring pop superstars, K-pop acts, rising artists, and OPM faves are taking to Philippine stages in the months ahead

Sep 18, 2026

Local pieces to wear with your everyday basics

From bags and jewelry to a sarong, these local pieces prove you do not need a complicated outfit to make an impression

Sep 18, 2026

Feeling younger and stronger, not just older

Getting older doesn't mean you are done getting stronger or your best years are over. Your body can still be a work in progress

Sep 18, 2026

Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ is more funny than it is scary—so what?

Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ does not advance the franchise lore in any way but it’s a grounded story set within Raccoon City

Sep 18, 2026

MakatiMed adds Ultherapy Prime to its wellness roster

Makati Medical Center’s Skin and Laser Hub is adding Ultherapy Prime to its aesthetic services, the latest evolution of its noninvasive lifting technology, offering patients a personalized approach to skin tightening. Launched Sept. 10 at the MakatiMed WellnessHub, the new treatment builds on the hospital’s longstanding experience in laser and aesthetic medicine. The launch brought together members of the medical community and guests, with actress and former Miss World Megan Young and actor, entrepreneur and content creator Mikael Daez introduced as Ultherapy Prime ambassadors. For Dr. Ma. Lourdes Aragon de Veyra, head of the Skin and Laser Hub, the arrival of Ultherapy Prime represents another step in the development of ultrasound technology, which has been used in medicine for decades. De Veyra traced ultrasound’s history from its early use in medical imaging to applications that harnessed its biological effects. “In 2000, they started harnessing the potential of this ultrasound by actually causing it to be micro-focused. With the use of this micro-focused ultrasound, it has been used to actually tighten the skin to create a thermal damage to the skin so that it can cause healing. With healing comes the formation of new collagen tissues and renewal of the cells,” De Veyra said. The treatment targets the subdermis and SMAS, or superficial muscular aponeurotic system, while delivering energy at targeted depths. She said the technology can reach temperatures of about 60 to 70 degrees without damaging the surface of the skin. Still themselves While technological advancement is central to Ultherapy Prime, De Veyra said the objective of aesthetic treatment should remain grounded in helping patients look like themselves. “We’ve talked about the science, the technology, and the precision behind Ultherapy Prime. Ultimately, people want the treatment where they will still look like themselves and not look like somebody else,” she said. She said responsible aesthetic care should focus on preserving a patient’s individuality rather than creating a dramatically different appearance. “The goal of responsible doctors is to make our patients feel confident about how they are, how they look. You can probably refine it a little bit, but in the end, our goal is to make our patients flaunt their uniqueness, how they look but with la little twitch. That’s it,” De Veyra said. Endorses on self care Celebrity couple Young and Daez brought a personal perspective to the launch as the new ambassadors of Ultherapy Prime. For Young, beauty has always been closely associated with character and confidence. The former Miss World, who won the title in 2013, said her perspective has remained consistent through the years. “I guess throughout the years, even when I was younger, beauty comes from within. Once you have that beautiful personality or that beautiful heart, then of course, that shines outward,” Young said. She said her view of beauty has evolved around maintaining her appearance while keeping her skincare routine manageable. Daez said he and Young approach self-care as something that encompasses more than physical appearance. “Megan and I have always had this mindset of taking care of ourselves holistically, so emotionally, physically. It’s also about taking care of the way that we look,” Daez said. “Part of that is also feeling good and looking as great as you can. So that’s why we’re here,” he added. The couple also shared how they came to try Ultherapy. Daez admitted that he was the one who initially suggested exploring the treatment. “I’m also the one always looking out. What are the things that we can do? I mean, working out, running, getting good sleep,” Daez said. “We came across Ulthera and we decided to ask about it. We felt that it fit what we wanted so we tried it out,” he added. With Ultherapy Prime now part of its aesthetic offerings, MakatiMed’s Skin and Laser Hub continues to combine medical innovation with patient-centered care, giving patients another option for achieving subtle lifting and tightening without surgery.

Sep 18, 2026

Stand out and proud in customized denim

Customizing a garment or any pre-made item can be as simple as using a waterproof marker to write one’s name or initials on it. It’s a way to stand out from the crowd even if doing so might come across as rebellious, defiant. At the newly opened Levi’s store in Greenbelt 5, customization gives customers a creative way to express themselves. This is instantly apparent upon entering as the penned-in work area, Levi’s Tailor Shop, is positioned at the middle of the store. “This flagship store represents a major milestone for the brand as it is the first with this concept in the region, and only the second in Asia after the one in Sapporo, Japan,” said Louella Scott, general manager of Vogue Concepts. As the distributor’s largest store, it carries many of the denim brand’s styles including the more premium ones. “We have the ‘Made in Japan’ Blue Tab line as well as Levi’s Vintage Clothing. There are also shrink-to-fit options that conform to the wearer’s body after soaking, ensuring a truly personalized fit,” Scott said. The literal core of the store, however, is the Levi’s Tailor Shop, where customers can have their denim customized to their specifications. A range of patches is available, including site-specific designs such as a jeepney with a Greenbelt Makati signboard, the tree-lined corner of De la Rosa and Legazpi streets, and a scene inspired by one of the city’s Sunday markets. There are other ways to personalize one’s denim at the store including distressing certain portions of the fabric. “We offer embroidery services and even paint some pieces by hand,” Scott said. The store also has an ace up its denim sleeve in master tailor Tristan Rimorin, who is recognized for his artistry in customization. For him, customizing clothing goes beyond embellishment. “We do a lot of garment resizing such as reshaping a loose-fitting 578 to a slim 511 while preserving the seams and structural balance,” Rimorin said. He and another tailor focus on tapering and managing waistlines to maintain comfort without altering essential proportions. This approach is especially valuable for clients who want to update well-loved garments for a more modern fit. “Our primary goal is to provide solutions for customers, including those who have owned items for many years but have outgrown them,” Rimorin said. Rimorin also gets to indulge in and show off his creative side with clients who want one-of-a-kind items. “I’ve fused two denim pieces into one, and combined patches and distressing for a really well-worn pair of jeans. I also worked with a painter on a denim jacket that features a winged angel with the wings made of distressed denim fabric,” Rimorin said. When he used to place some of the items he had worked with on display, people would come and in and offer to buy them. Rimorin had to tell them that these were already owned by clients who had come to him for customization. “I add that they can purchase new items at the store and that I can work with them on customizing the pieces for a fee,” he said.

Sep 18, 2026

A September birthday, reunion filled with plenty of laughter

SEPTEMBER brought another happy occasion for the Rabano family, known for its ties to the tuna industry, as they gathered with the Lim family for a birthday celebration and family reunion at Vikings in Mall of Asia The gathering brought together relatives and loved ones for an evening of good food, lively conversations and cherished family moments. Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner at Vikings, with a wide selection of dishes for everyone to enjoy. The children had their own share of fun as they indulged in an array of desserts, from colorful cakes and creamy ice cream to refreshing ice drops. Their excitement and laughter added to the cheerful atmosphere of the celebration. Making the occasion more meaningful were family members who flew in from Japan to join the birthday celebration. Their presence gave everyone an opportunity to reconnect despite the distance and their busy schedules. Throughout the evening, family members caught up, reminisced about old memories, shared stories and exchanged jokes. Laughter filled the gathering, reflecting the warmth and closeness of the two families. More than a birthday celebration, the September get-together served as a joyful reunion and a reminder that, despite distance and busy schedules, there is always something special about coming together, sharing a meal and enjoying each other’s company.