Nike filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit Monday over the “Satan Shoes” collaboration with the company MSCHF and rapper Lil Nas X, according to court documents.
The rapper unveiled the shoes over the weekend, evoking condemnation from some conservative personalities, support from fans, and general confusion from those not familiar with the artist behind “Old Town Road.”
Stay tuned for updates as we have them. pic.twitter.com/CuRJ9TEUqe
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) March 29, 2021
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York days after the New York-based company MSCHF, which specializes in viral marketing campaigns, and the rapper released a modified version of the Nike Air Max 97s.
“Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against MSCHF today related to the Satan Shoes,” Nike told the Washington Examiner.
RAPPER RELEASING ‘SATAN SHOES’ WITH DROP OF HUMAN BLOOD AND PENTAGRAMS
The statement added, “We don’t have further details to share on pending legal matters. However, we can tell you we do not have a relationship with Lil Nas X or MSCHF. The Satan Shoes were produced without Nike’s approval or authorization, and Nike is in no way connected with this project.”
Nike requested a trial by jury over four separate trademark infringement counts.
MSCHF only produced 666 pairs of the shoes, a number commonly associated with the devil. The shoes feature the number “666” on the back and have pentagram emblems attached.
The sneakers contain a drop of human blood in the gel sole, combined with a red liquid. The Satan Shoes are sold for $1,018, a reference to “Luke 10:18,” which is written on the side, referencing a Bible verse concerning Satan’s fall from heaven.
Nike alleges MSCHF purchases sneakers and modifies them before selling for higher prices.
“Decisions about what products to put the ‘swoosh’ [logo] on belong to Nike, not to third parties like MSCHF,” the lawsuit said. “Nike requests that the court immediately and permanently stop MSCHF from fulfilling all orders for its unauthorized Satan Shoes.”
Nike addressed recent calls by some critics of the shoes to boycott the company, saying in a statement to Complex, the “Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF’s products and Nike.”
The shoes were released to commemorate the release of the rapper’s latest song, “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” The song came out with a music video featuring Lil Nas X with a man dressed as Satan, in which he later kills the devil and becomes him.
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Lil Nas X is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, though he tweeted about the litigation, posting a meme of homeless Squidward from SpongeBob Squarepants begging for money.
me after the nike lawsuit pic.twitter.com/XVLjHlSrru
— nope ? (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021
The Washington Examiner reached out to Nike and MSCHF but did not immediately receive a response.
