I've read through the drama, and I have suggestions for you. This is just some constructive criticism from my mind that I took some free time to write, so you can take my thoughts with a grain of salt if you so choose. I don't know what all happened with you claiming to want to infringe copyrights, but I'll assume for now that you didn't say that or meant something else.
There is very little chance that any vendor will want to host this set based on what happened with the first iteration. Talk to an IP lawyer, and have them verify that everything's okay. That should be the first step, and having that confirmation that nothing will infringe on copyrights (the colorway combined with the words, etc.) will possibly open up some vendors to be okay with running this. This is also for the sake of the vendors you are working with and GMK. Even if you get a vendor before doing this, you don't want to end up massively hurting them if Nike brings in their legal team.
If there is an IP problem seen by the lawyer, it will most likely stem from the novelties being loosely connected to Nike IP, especially combined with the "Technology and ninjas" theme that supposedly inspired you. The best course in this case would be to just remove the novelties. I'm sure most people are still interested in the colorway even if the novelties are there. Your novelties right now seem very haphazardly thought out because you were probably trying to cover up the obvious inherent origin of the set. Is this set about Future tech, neon green ninjas and warriors? I think your attempt to lessen any IP worries in your set messed up the basic theme, and it seems all over the place. Trying to cover up the original theme of the set while still possibly having IP concerns ("MAX","NEON", Nike font (although I don't think that matters)) won't save you if Nike decides it's time to kill. And I'll say it again, the ideas seem all over the place.
If I was in your shoes and I still wanted to run the set, I would either:
- Remove all words that could trigger Nike's legal team, such as "MAX" and "NEON" and etc. and stick with the "futuristic ninja warrior" theme. Don't forget to change the name of the set, remove "Max"
- Remove all novelties and just make it a super clean, colorway-implied-theme set. Maybe also remove the word "Max" in the title. GMK Neon Dolch, idk.
I may be wrong, but I think the whole futuristic/ninja/warrior theme was hastily thought of to cover up IP, but if you're sure people like 'em, then why not, keep 'em and maybe make new ones to replace the risky novelties. Removing novelties also condenses the project to only 2 kits combined with 2 custom colors with no custom molds which translates to cheaper prices.
Doing all this should ease all worries about IP and open up your choices for vendors too. You'll still have to deal with the bitter drama that this set caused, but you'll at least be way better off than you were before. For what I know, you tried to make the set political in the heat of the moment, but you apologized after. Although that was a pretty bad mistake to make, you're only human and I'm sure that people can accept your apology.
Good luck
