Issued on: 09/04/2021 -
Lil Nas X performs onstage during the Grammy Awards in January 2020
Robyn Beck AFP/File
New York (AFP)
The company behind the "Satan Shoes" released in collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X has settled with Nike over the sneakers the corporate giant said were trademark infringement.
MSCHF, the Brooklyn studio that developed 666 pairs of customized Nike Air Max 97s -- complete with an apparent drop of human blood in the midsole -- issued a voluntary recall for the kicks.
In a Friday email the company offered a full refund of the original retail price and shipping costs to customers who purchased either the Satan Shoes or the previously released "Jesus Shoes" -- which contained holy water in the sole.
The Satan Shoes went for $1,018 each.
"We have agreed to settle the lawsuit," the MSCHF email read. "As part of the settlement, Nike has asked us, and we have agreed, to initiate a recall in order to remove the Satan Shoes and the Jesus Shoes from circulation."
"This is a voluntary recall: it is totally within your rights to choose whether to return your Satan Shoes or Jesus Shoes."
The Satan Shoes sold out almost instantly when they dropped late last month.
Their release triggered controversy from some American conservatives, especially those already incensed by artist Lil Nas X's lusty video for the song "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" whose release was affiliated with the shoes.
Nike alleged in federal court documents that the sneakers prompted boycott calls against them from offended consumers, who erroneously associate the sneaker giant with the bloody soled-shoes due to their trademark swoosh symbol.
Details of the settlement beyond the recall were not disclosed.
"The parties are pleased to put this dispute behind them," a Nike spokesperson said in a statement.
© 2021 AFP
MSCHF cannot sell 666 pairs of controversial sneakers
‘Conceptual art collective’ bemoans legal reverse
The customised Nike Air Max 97s each contain a drop of human blood. Photograph: MSCHF
Priya Elan
Sat 3 Apr 2021
Priya Elan
Sat 3 Apr 2021
THE GUARDIAN
The maker of the rapper Lil Nas X’s controversial “Satan shoes” responded to a lawsuit from Nike by claiming the sneakers were works of art.
Satan shoes? Sure. But Lil Nas X is not leading American kids to devil-worship
Akin Olla
The customised Nike Air Max 97s, which each contain a drop of human blood, have also stoked outrage among conservative politicians.
Nike said “sophisticated sneakerheads were confused” by the shoes, and succeeded in its attempt to block MSCHF from shipping to customers any of 666 sold-out pairs.
MSCHF, however, describes itself as a “conceptual art collective” which “engage[s] fashion, art, tech and capitalism in various, often unexpected mediums”.
Responding to the Nike suit on its website, it insisted the shoes were “art created for people to observe, speculate on, purchase and own” and added: “Satan is as much part of the art historical canon as Jesus, from Renaissance Hellmouths to Milton.”
“We are not affiliated with Nike,” it said, “as we have consistently iterated to the press. We were honestly surprised by the action Nike has taken, and immediately after Nike’s counsel sent us notice we reached out but received no response.”
MSCHF previously created a batch of all-white “Jesus shoes”, which contained so-called holy water. Nike did not sue then.
In legal documents regarding the “Satan shoes”, Nike said MSCHF had “materially altered” its shoes “to prominently feature a Satanic theme … without Nike’s approval or authorisation”.
Nike also rejected the claim to the status of art, saying MSCHF “did not create a single shoe-shaped sculpture to sit in a museum” and instead “created hundreds of shoes emblazoned with a NikeSwoosh that it sold to allcomers”.
Lil Nas X, who had offered the final pair of the shoes as a competition prize, told followers: “Sorry guys, I’m legally not allowed to give the 666th away anymore because of the crying nerds on the internet.
“I feel like it’s fucked up they have so much power they can get shoes cancelled. Freedom of expression gone out the window.”
MSCHF said it “strongly believe[d] in the freedom of expression … and nothing is more important than our ability, and the ability of other artists like us, to continue our work over the coming years.”
It also said the Satan Shoes project “started a conversation, while also living natively in its space”.
The Lil Nas X song the sneakers were made to promote, Montero (Call Me By Your Name), is expected to top charts around the world.
The maker of the rapper Lil Nas X’s controversial “Satan shoes” responded to a lawsuit from Nike by claiming the sneakers were works of art.
Satan shoes? Sure. But Lil Nas X is not leading American kids to devil-worship
Akin Olla
The customised Nike Air Max 97s, which each contain a drop of human blood, have also stoked outrage among conservative politicians.
Nike said “sophisticated sneakerheads were confused” by the shoes, and succeeded in its attempt to block MSCHF from shipping to customers any of 666 sold-out pairs.
MSCHF, however, describes itself as a “conceptual art collective” which “engage[s] fashion, art, tech and capitalism in various, often unexpected mediums”.
Responding to the Nike suit on its website, it insisted the shoes were “art created for people to observe, speculate on, purchase and own” and added: “Satan is as much part of the art historical canon as Jesus, from Renaissance Hellmouths to Milton.”
“We are not affiliated with Nike,” it said, “as we have consistently iterated to the press. We were honestly surprised by the action Nike has taken, and immediately after Nike’s counsel sent us notice we reached out but received no response.”
MSCHF previously created a batch of all-white “Jesus shoes”, which contained so-called holy water. Nike did not sue then.
In legal documents regarding the “Satan shoes”, Nike said MSCHF had “materially altered” its shoes “to prominently feature a Satanic theme … without Nike’s approval or authorisation”.
Nike also rejected the claim to the status of art, saying MSCHF “did not create a single shoe-shaped sculpture to sit in a museum” and instead “created hundreds of shoes emblazoned with a NikeSwoosh that it sold to allcomers”.
Lil Nas X, who had offered the final pair of the shoes as a competition prize, told followers: “Sorry guys, I’m legally not allowed to give the 666th away anymore because of the crying nerds on the internet.
“I feel like it’s fucked up they have so much power they can get shoes cancelled. Freedom of expression gone out the window.”
MSCHF said it “strongly believe[d] in the freedom of expression … and nothing is more important than our ability, and the ability of other artists like us, to continue our work over the coming years.”
It also said the Satan Shoes project “started a conversation, while also living natively in its space”.
The Lil Nas X song the sneakers were made to promote, Montero (Call Me By Your Name), is expected to top charts around the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment