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Image Credit - RollingStone[/caption]
A judge supported Nike on Thursday morning in the battle of the latter against artist Lil Nas X and a Brooklyn art collective’s piece called ‘Satan Shoes’ The judge issued a temporary restraining order against the unofficial pair of Nikes.
The brawl is over the modified Air Max 97 shoes, a limited-edition run of 666 pairs complete with pentagrams and human blood. Nike sued the Brooklyn collective called Mschf earlier this week after the shoes were featured in the Satanic video of ‘Montero’. The company then followed up with it by filing an injunction and a temporary restraining order motion with a federal judge to prevent the sale of the shoes.
As per the Hollywood Reporter, Nike argued at the hearing on Thursday that the shoes which were an unofficial release are damaging the company’s reputation. Social media is also at it with some well-known politicians even threatening to boycott the company.
As per Mschf’s lawyer who laid out the First Amendment arguments said that the shoes which are priced at $1016 are ‘not typical sneakers, but rather individually numbered works of art that were sold to collectors for $1,018 each.” It has also been reported that about six hundred and sixty-five pairs were sold of the shoes in one minute while they symbolized their 66th pair sale as a giveaway.
The lawyer also told the judge on Wednesday in a defendant letter that all but one pairs have already been shipped and the company does not plan to make any more as of now. So the restraining order is unnecessary. U.S. District Court Judge Eric Komitee sided with Nike and issued the temporary restraining order against Mschf. After the ruling, Mschf stated that the shoes were a continuation of the unofficial Jesus-themed shoes by Nike that they released without any legal action. “Heresy only exists in relation to doctrine: who is Nike to censor one but not the other? Satan is as much part of the art historical canon as Jesus, from Renaissance Hellmouths to Milton,” Mschf said. “Satan exists as the challenger to the ultimate authority. We were delighted to work with Lil Nas X on Satan Shoes and continue this dialogue.” However, they also said that as of now, they have stalled the shipment of the 666th pair.
They added, “MSCHF strongly believes in the freedom of expression, and nothing is more important than our ability, and the ability of other artists like us, to continue with our work over the coming years. We look forward to working with Nike and the court to resolve this case in the most expeditious manner.”
Nike later said, “Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against Mschf today related to the Satan Shoes.” They highlighted the legal issue and accused Mschf of distributing the product without authorization. They added, “We can tell you we do not have a relationship with Lil Nas X or Mschf.”
Image Credit - RollingStone[/caption]A judge supported Nike on Thursday morning in the battle of the latter against artist Lil Nas X and a Brooklyn art collective’s piece called ‘Satan Shoes’ The judge issued a temporary restraining order against the unofficial pair of Nikes.
The brawl is over the modified Air Max 97 shoes, a limited-edition run of 666 pairs complete with pentagrams and human blood. Nike sued the Brooklyn collective called Mschf earlier this week after the shoes were featured in the Satanic video of ‘Montero’. The company then followed up with it by filing an injunction and a temporary restraining order motion with a federal judge to prevent the sale of the shoes.
As per the Hollywood Reporter, Nike argued at the hearing on Thursday that the shoes which were an unofficial release are damaging the company’s reputation. Social media is also at it with some well-known politicians even threatening to boycott the company.
As per Mschf’s lawyer who laid out the First Amendment arguments said that the shoes which are priced at $1016 are ‘not typical sneakers, but rather individually numbered works of art that were sold to collectors for $1,018 each.” It has also been reported that about six hundred and sixty-five pairs were sold of the shoes in one minute while they symbolized their 66th pair sale as a giveaway.
The lawyer also told the judge on Wednesday in a defendant letter that all but one pairs have already been shipped and the company does not plan to make any more as of now. So the restraining order is unnecessary. U.S. District Court Judge Eric Komitee sided with Nike and issued the temporary restraining order against Mschf. After the ruling, Mschf stated that the shoes were a continuation of the unofficial Jesus-themed shoes by Nike that they released without any legal action. “Heresy only exists in relation to doctrine: who is Nike to censor one but not the other? Satan is as much part of the art historical canon as Jesus, from Renaissance Hellmouths to Milton,” Mschf said. “Satan exists as the challenger to the ultimate authority. We were delighted to work with Lil Nas X on Satan Shoes and continue this dialogue.” However, they also said that as of now, they have stalled the shipment of the 666th pair.
They added, “MSCHF strongly believes in the freedom of expression, and nothing is more important than our ability, and the ability of other artists like us, to continue with our work over the coming years. We look forward to working with Nike and the court to resolve this case in the most expeditious manner.”
Nike later said, “Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against Mschf today related to the Satan Shoes.” They highlighted the legal issue and accused Mschf of distributing the product without authorization. They added, “We can tell you we do not have a relationship with Lil Nas X or Mschf.”
