Nike securing the trademark to the Jordan 1’s design made waves last week. That’s a pretty big deal and a big blow to all of the folks out there with Alibaba accounts shipping bootlegs.
It’s yet another step forward in the bootleg conversation that we had earlier this year with Warren Lotas and company. Nike really seems to be ready to crack down on this stuff, which feels like a win for consumers.
How do we feel about that? Do we like it? Love it? Hate it? This has shaken up the sneaker world quite a bit and I’m here for it.
There’s a line between an homage or tribute (or a remix!) and a bootleg and I think Nike does not give a flying fuck about sneaker culture so ultimately this is gonna be bad.
This is ultimately a concern of mine as well. I hate bootlegs, but I also feel like this further tightens Nike's grip on the market and reduces the incentive to just simply make more shoes so people don't have to buy bootlegs.
It just feels like the self defeating DMCA claims we see online all the time. I’m sure Nike has numbers claiming how much this “costs” them but realistically I don’t think it costs them anything at all. The people who can afford it and are so inclined buy the legit products, some people can’t and buy bootleg. All I see is if this does reduce the bootleg supply, it just meaning less people wearing shoes with the tick on them. The artistic considerations here are concerning too. Just feels like Nike asserting further dominance.
Plain and simple rent seeking. It won’t be possible to market a sneaker without kicking something upstairs to Nike.
love to have an army of lawyers tell me whether or not my art is allowed to see the light of day
There’s a line between an homage or tribute (or a remix!) and a bootleg and I think Nike does not give a flying fuck about sneaker culture so ultimately this is gonna be bad.
This is ultimately a concern of mine as well. I hate bootlegs, but I also feel like this further tightens Nike's grip on the market and reduces the incentive to just simply make more shoes so people don't have to buy bootlegs.
I hate bootlegs as well and I think this will help sneaker culture.
It just feels like the self defeating DMCA claims we see online all the time. I’m sure Nike has numbers claiming how much this “costs” them but realistically I don’t think it costs them anything at all. The people who can afford it and are so inclined buy the legit products, some people can’t and buy bootleg. All I see is if this does reduce the bootleg supply, it just meaning less people wearing shoes with the tick on them. The artistic considerations here are concerning too. Just feels like Nike asserting further dominance.