Bella Breakdown
The release of the “Montero” music videos has stirred controversy around the artist Lil Nas X that spiked after the announcement of a new collaboration with MSCHF for limited-edition Nike Air Max 97 ‘Satan Shoes.’ The ‘Satan Shoes’ featured embellishments looking like liquid blood with pentagrams and the recognizable Nike swoosh logo.
BREAKING: Nike is suing MSCHF over the @LilNasX "Satan Shoes" for copyright infringement and dilution. pic.twitter.com/lEL6DIVyOD
— SAINT (@saint) March 29, 2021
The sneaker collaboration stirred more controversy with Nike taking a majority of the blame over what the athletic brand is deeming the ‘Satan Shoes’ as unauthorized use of the swoosh logo. Only one day after announcing the new shoe collab, Nike has launched a lawsuit against the Brooklyn-based brand MSCHF for copyright infringement and dilution.
Nike Inc. launched a lawsuit against MSCHF Product Studio Inc. with the complaint of trademark infringement, a false destination of origin/unfair competition, trademark dilution, and common law trademark infringement and unfair competition. The lawsuit maintains that “MSCHF and its unauthorized ‘Satan Shoes’ are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF’s products and Nike.”
The lawsuit provides evidence of the claims of association with MSCHF and Nike with calls to boycott Nike coinciding with the launch of MSCHF’s Satan Shoes. The call to boycott Nike is based on misinformation that Nike approved or authorized this product and this lawsuit will help Nike maintain control of its brand.
— SAINT (@saint) March 29, 2021
Nike is also asserting the authority of being the only brand to feature the trademark swoosh logo and doesn’t approve of third-party use including MSCHF. Nike also requests the Court to immediately and permanently halt MSCHF from fulfilling all orders for the unauthorized order for the ‘Satan Shoes.’
The fact-checking website Snopes.com an MSCHF representative claims MSCHF buys the shoes from Nike and MSCHF artists make their own creative modifications before selling them. MSCHF has built a reputation creating controversial and viral products but the ‘Satan Shoe’ might have pushed the brand over the limits.
