Nike & Michael Jordan Get Sued By Fashion Brand For Possibly Plagiarizing Logo
Image via Nike
The stars are clashing in the world of streetwear. Nike and Michael Jordan are being sued for trademark and copyright infringement by a New York independent fashion label for possibly sponging off its logo for a capsule collection without consent.
Rocco Giordano, the founder of the brand Faded Royalty, believes that his “six-point star” emblem served as the backbone for a symbol used in Nike’s Jordan Chicago Collaborators’ Collection.
The Nike collection, launched in January 2020, encompassed the work of partnering Chicago creators who were asked to design pieces representing their neighborhoods. The garments printed with the six-point star, which Giordano alleged to be nearly “identical” to his logo, was cited by Nike in its press release to have been designed by artist Cody Hudson for Jordan’s Orange line.
The sportswear giant described that Hudson drew upon his “fascination with motion-inspired graphics” to rework “the six-point star from the Chicago flag.”
Giordano argued that his version has been in use since as early as 2000, and was trademarked in 2012. He asserted that the Faded Royalty symbol was recognized in New York City due in part to its several appearances on national television and pop-up stores.
Fox Business also reported that the Faded Royalty boss only learned about the purported misappropriation of his logo after “friends in the fashion industry” sent him “congratulatory messages.”
The suit detailed that Giordano was “flabbergasted to learn that the fruits of his labor were being used without his consent for profits by one of the largest apparel companies in the world.”
He is seeking a permanent injunction, along with at least US$30 million in damages, from Nike and Jordan.
Nike declined to deliver a public response to the complaint, claiming pending litigation.
Image via Nike
Image via Faded Royalty
Image via Faded Royalty
Nike’s symbol (left), in use since 2020, VS Faded Royalty’s symbol (right), in use since 2000. Images via Nike and Faded Royalty
[via Creative Bloq, images via various sources]
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