See that? No, not the #brands so conspicuously splattered across the press conference backdrop. Look closer, at the headphones... the Beats headphones draped around San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The logo has been taped off after the QB received a $10,000 fine for brandishing it just last week.

Loading Colin Kaepernick is wearing the pink Beats by Dre with tape covering the logo. He was fined $10K last week. He is appealing. View on Instagram

Bose, as you'll recall, is the official headphone sponsor for the NFL, taking over the role from perennial sponsors Motorola. Kaepernick, meanwhile, has an endorsement deal with Beats. Proof that NFL sponsorship or not, playas gonna play and Bose gonna hate.

Of course, Kaepernick is himself an extremely valuable #brand, as is SAP, Gatorade, Levis, the NFL, and the San Francisco 49ers. A struggle between marques that plays out like a scene from Snow Crash where businesses have become autonomous nation-states and the scenery is nothing but advertisements. It's brands vs. brands on the marketing gridiron and the only loser will be you.

From the archives: Our interview with Beats Music's Ian Rogers.