(UPDATE 12/12):
Nike and Lil Gnar have reached a confidential settlement after the Swoosh filed a trademark lawsuit against the rapper and his brand, Gnarcotic.
- Nike alleged Gnarcotic sold knockoffs of the Dunk
- Gnarcotic agrees Nike owns challenged trademarks
The settlement arrives days after Nike filed the lawsuit over the use and reappropriation of the brand’s elephant print and Dunk silhouette.
Nike, Inc. is in the courts again this week as the footwear & apparel giant has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Lil Gnar and his Gnarcotic footwear brand.
The Swoosh is protecting its Nike Dunk silhouette and others, such as the Air Jordan 1 with the recent Kool Kiy and Omni in a Hellcat lawsuit.
In court documents obtained by Nice Kicks, Nike claims that Gnarcotic’s designs “confuse consumers and undermine the very DNA of authentic sneaker culture by promoting, copying, and selling Nike’s designs as their own.”
Gnarcotic has and continues to promote and sell Nike Dunk knockoffs in several colorways, as well as making unauthorized use of patterns that confusingly mimic Nike’s iconic Elephant Print design.
Nike via court documents
In addition to the use of the silhouette, Nike’s signature elephant print was also cited as a part of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also states that Nike and Gnarcotic originally reached an agreement in July after Nike filed a cease & desist.
Since notifying Gnarcotic of its infringement in July of this year, Nike has attempted to reach a resolution with Gnarcotic that does not involve the continued theft of Nike’s designs.
During these discussions, Gnarcotic made representations that it would cease, among other things, selling products that infringe Nike’s intellectual property, and these representations were a cornerstone of Nike’s decision to continue its attempt to resolve this matter amicably.
Nike via court documents
Gnarcotic, however, decided to release another batch of shoes on November 21, 2022, prompting Nike to file the lawsuit.
Nike cannot allow bad actors like Gnarcotic to confuse consumers by building a business on the back of Nike’s most famous trademarks, as it has previously done and is continuing to do today with its alleged ‘v3’ versions of its footwear. Such illicit activity undermines the value of Nike’s trademarks and the messages they convey.
Nike therefore brings this lawsuit to stop bad actors like Gnarcotic from making, sourcing, distributing, and selling knockoffs of Nike’s products and illegally using Nike’s most famous designs.
Nike via court documents
Stay tuned to Nice Kicks as the story develops.
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