nike borrows/steals minor threat image

[Extra Cheese]

i like nike but wait a minute,,,, i guess if i was really into punk music i'd be upset but whatever,, i just copped the old barkley's last week


http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/23.shtml


Nike Campaign "Borrows" Album Art

Rob Kleckner reports:
Exhibit A: Classic cover art for Minor Threat's self-titled 1984 compilation.
Exhibit B: Nike Skateboarding's poster image for its "Major Threat" 2005 East Coast Tour.

You don't need a degree in graphic design to notice the similarities here. They're the fucking same. Oh, wait-- one is blue, not red. And Major, not Minor. And there are some Nike logos tossed in there. This brings to mind an interview with Vanilla Ice, defending the differences between "Ice Ice Baby" and "Under Pressure" ("dun dun dun duh-duh-duh dun" vs. "DUN dun dun dun duh-duh-duh dun").

Come on, Nike, your Swoosh is one of the most iconic brand images in the world, perhaps a tiny notch below the Golden Arches and maybe Coca-Cola; you don't need to be appropriating another culture for yourselves.

But Nike is smart enough to know better, right? They must have asked permission. We spoke to a representative from Dischord Records, Minor Threat's label, if Nike had asked to borrow these images. They said the following: "No, they stole it and we're not happy about it. Nike is a giant corporation which is attempting to manipulate the alternative skate culture to create an even wider demand for their already ubiquitous brand. Nike represents just about the antithesis of what Dischord stands for and it makes me sick to my stomach to think they are using this explicit imagery to fool kids into thinking that the general ethos of this label, and Minor Threat in particular, can somehow be linked to Nike's mission. It's disgusting."

Dischord is not sure of what action they are going to take, but you can tell they are not happy with Nike's choice. We will keep you updated as we learn more about the situation.

* Nike Skateboarding: http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding/
* Dischord Records: http://www.dischord.com/

[RobMoney]

Nike would put the Swoosh logo on the American Flag if they could.

[beastie fresh]

Nike does skateboarding?

[laserx54]

even though i'm majorly pissed about this...


did anyone complain when Rancid's "...And Out Come the Wolves" bore a striking resemblance to said album cover????

[King PSYZ]

:mad:

[DroppinScience]

:mad: :mad: (n) (n) (n)

Oh and now that you mention it, yeah, Rancid's cover is similar to Minor Threat's. However, I'd consider that an homage. What Nike is doing here is deceptive.

[laserx54]

well i hate to be a nitpicker but i just looked at my Minor Threat 1984 comp vinyl and it is green.


the red cover in the article is actually from the Complete Discography.


you'd think those pompous bastards at Pitchfork would know the difference...

[Mr Films]

Nike would put the Swoosh logo on the American Flag if they could.

those evil tyrants!

[cosmo105]

yet another plate of bullshit served to us by Nike Inc

[King PSYZ]

Ian should sue for the rights to the converse brand they just bought and make the chucks indie style

[Mr Films]

yet another plate of bullshit served to us by Nike Inc

i missed the previous servings of bullshit, to what are you referring?

personally, I find it funny that had this been, say, Avril Lavigne's cover art they ripped off (for example), you guys would either not care or applaud nike.

just sayin is all. i could be wrong.

[King PSYZ]

right but avril also isn't really a poster child for punk rock cred now is she?

[Mr Films]

right but avril also isn't really a poster child for punk rock cred now is she?

right. I think my point is just that it's all subjective. I don't give a rats ass about Minor Threat and therefore I'm not furious like some may be that Nike did this. I don't care at all, in fact.

I do however think it's odd they didn't ask permission.

[King PSYZ]

it's quite subversive though, minor threat stands for independance. the skate culture has been a hard nut for corporations to crack.

so using a simillar image nearly is saying "look were down with ian and minor threat xstraightedgex oi oi oi"

[Los Para Noias]

it's mostly a low blow because it's pretty much the opposite of the original message, which is bastardizing something with good intentions for the purpose to sell a product. To bastardize a product (such as a pop star) for the sake of another product is much less worrisome.

[Mr Films]

it's quite subversive though, minor threat stands for independance. the skate culture has been a hard nut for corporations to crack.

so using a simillar image nearly is saying "look were down with ian and minor threat xstraightedgex oi oi oi"

it's mostly a low blow because it's pretty much the opposite of the original message, which is bastardizing something with good intentions for the purpose to sell a product. To bastardize a product (such as a pop star) for the sake of another product is much less worrisome.

word.

i withdraw my previous statements.

I'd still like to hear what 'bullshit' cosmo is referring to.

[laserx54]

i love how we're all getting into a shitfit over this



has anyone ACTUALLY seen this ad campaign??? i haven't and that's nearly as satisfying as this never existing at all

[King PSYZ]

i'm guessing the only reason you havn't seen a full scale ad blitz is that they know they're gonna get sued. if it's on a smale scale no big whoop the intrest in their bank accounts will cover any settlement.

[Mr Films]

i didn't really notice any "shitfit"

[poutine]

for those that care... nike did seem to issue a "statement and apology" (http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding/v2/letter/letter.gif) about the issue. In which they say they have gotten rid of all media bearing the image in question... which would explain why no one has seen it i guess.

[icy manipulator]

oh well, people say money makes the world go around, so come escape with me and let's puff on a pound (y) :p

[minorthreat]

well i hate to be a nitpicker but i just looked at my Minor Threat 1984 comp vinyl and it is green.


the red cover in the article is actually from the Complete Discography.


you'd think those pompous bastards at Pitchfork would know the difference...

my complete discography cover is blue...

[cosmo105]

i love how we're all getting into a shitfit over this



has anyone ACTUALLY seen this ad campaign??? i haven't and that's nearly as satisfying as this never existing at all
i saw it. and it was dumb.

[King PSYZ]

for those that care... nike did seem to issue a "statement and apology" (http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding/v2/letter/letter.gif) about the issue. In which they say they have gotten rid of all media bearing the image in question... which would explain why no one has seen it i guess.
owned

[cosmo105]

word.

i withdraw my previous statements.

I'd still like to hear what 'bullshit' cosmo is referring to.
let's see...the "john lennon peace edition" chuck taylors? those were ridiculous. you REALLY think he would have supported a corporation like fucking NIKE? i'm sure yoko had a lot to do with it...still. that was retarded on a grand scale.

[RobMoney]

Nike does produce a damn fine quality product. I love everything of theirs.

[DroppinScience]

for those that care... nike did seem to issue a "statement and apology" (http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding/v2/letter/letter.gif) about the issue. In which they say they have gotten rid of all media bearing the image in question... which would explain why no one has seen it i guess.

I'm glad to hear it! (y)

[ms.peachy]

owned
who, Nike?

If they thought they could get away with it, they would. But I'm sure the team of lawyers said "nix it and fast".

[cosmo105]

Nike does produce a damn fine quality product. I love everything of theirs.
you mean five year olds produce an overpriced product for pennies a day.

[King PSYZ]

then again sometimes five year olds need something constructive to keep out of trouble, i know a 5 year old, i'd be really happy if he had a job sometimes and realised the value of a hard earned dollar...


totally kidding, nobody adult or child should endure those conditions

[minorthreat]

you mean five year olds produce an overpriced product for pennies a day.

i hear that

although i don't approve of the uncanny similarities, i think author of the article is over reacting just a little bit. he sounds like a scenester who just heard of minor threat and now claims to love them since the beginning...

[dirtydan11]

let's see...the "john lennon peace edition" chuck taylors? those were ridiculous. you REALLY think he would have supported a corporation like fucking NIKE? i'm sure yoko had a lot to do with it...still. that was retarded on a grand scale.
at least, at the time, chucks were made in the USA, not in a sweatshop somewhere in Asia. Nike sucks. fuck them and their swooshtika. you will never see me supporting them. they represent whats wrong with the world today. (not only Nike but they are the subject of this thread)

[cosmo105]

you sure about that? nike's owned converse for quite a while now, and definitely since they made that edition.