| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| floop |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 08:29:10
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/
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| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| danjersey |
Posted - 07/13/2005 : 23:08:15
quote:
Originally posted by floop
quote:
Originally posted by Doog
At least Nike finally own up to what they've become.
I'd be more worried about the kiddies in Nike's sweatshops than the fact they've pinched (I love that word) an image from a band no-one cares about anymore.
apparently plenty of people do care about them .
to me it's not just that they stole, but there's something really creepy about the way they tried to manipulate this particular band, in an attempt to give them some street cred. i mean, you can't get much more opposite ends of the spectrum than Minor Threat. if it was some band like Oasis or Eminem it would just be a matter of "they stole the image".. but Ian Mackaye's material is explicitly political.
Nike trying to allign themselves with Minor Threat would be like the beef industry trying to allign themselves with P.E.T.A.
it's Dischord it's Ian Mackaye, Nike's skate division should have known better. "you are not what you own" |
| WolfManMikeLonely |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 20:16:41
Once again floop is completely right. Couldn't have said it better.
"Hey fuck you if you don't like it."
-Johnny Thunders
www.transposed.net |
| tobafett |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 18:45:06
quote:
Originally posted by BLT
I'd love to hear Henry Rollins' take on this.
rrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. he'd yell!
k--what's wrong with TaTu? should I post pics to show that they're ok?
 |
| floop |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 18:27:05
quote:
Originally posted by Doog
At least Nike finally own up to what they've become.
I'd be more worried about the kiddies in Nike's sweatshops than the fact they've pinched (I love that word) an image from a band no-one cares about anymore.
apparently plenty of people do care about them .
to me it's not just that they stole, but there's something really creepy about the way they tried to manipulate this particular band, in an attempt to give them some street cred. i mean, you can't get much more opposite ends of the spectrum than Minor Threat. if it was some band like Oasis or Eminem it would just be a matter of "they stole the image".. but Ian Mackaye's material is explicitly political.
Nike trying to allign themselves with Minor Threat would be like the beef industry trying to allign themselves with P.E.T.A. |
| Doog |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 18:08:32
At least Nike finally own up to what they've become.
I'd be more worried about the kiddies in Nike's sweatshops than the fact they've pinched (I love that word) an image from a band no-one cares about anymore.
 "Join the cult of Ray/He was the best Ghostbuster"
www.myspace.com/doog - www.doog.tk |
| BLT |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 15:00:53
I feel so sorry for Nike that their good intentions were so misunderstood...
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| Surfer Rosa |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 14:17:53
I can't believe that they were stupid enough to run it in the first place. Shed loads of money was spent putting that together and many many people sat around thinking that that was a good idea. Did nobody at any stage of the development think that Dischord would be pissed? |
| floop |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 14:05:07
i wonder what would have happened if Dischord tried to "borrow" one of their ad campaigns because they're from DC.. they're fucking lawyers would have them shut down and bankrupt by now |
| BLT |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 13:56:59
Nice attempt at damage control by Nike's PR firm. |
| floop |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 13:41:26
what a load of shit.. "we figured because the tour ended in Washington DC it was the perfect fit".. uh... yeah
even if the employees of Nike advertising actually are fans of Minor Threat, they should know that the the band would NOT be into endorsing a gigantic corporation like Nike. |
| Surfer Rosa |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 09:53:48
They've pulled the campaign.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/28.shtml |
| kathryn |
Posted - 06/25/2005 : 17:43:00
Sign of the apocalypse:
The girl in the treadmill next to mine today was listening to a TaTu CD. I almost fell
off my treadmill when I noticed.
I still believe in the excellent joy of the Catholics
 |
| BLT |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 22:49:44
I'd like to see Jeff Nelson playing the Nike CEO's head (drumsticks fat end OUT like he used to play). |
| danjersey |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 19:21:45
HELL YEA, Dischord House with Ian at the helm. |
| floop |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 18:44:44
i wonder what the rules are on this?
i bet Nike doesn't really care because they could afford the lawsuit no problem. it would be tough for a little company like Discord to take them on..
i'm curious how that case would go, who the artist is, if it's copyrighted etc.. there's a fine line between "homage" and "rip off".. |
| VoVat |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 10:59:27
quote:
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
Well, Pepsi stole the design from the South Korean flag.
I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied. |
| BLT |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 10:52:27
I'd love to hear Henry Rollins' take on this. |
| TRANSMARINE |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 09:28:39
quote:
Originally posted by BLT
One message rings clear: Boycott Nike and buy clothing from American sweatshops instead.
Hey...it's cheaper!
I was alone...in my BIG BED
-bRIAN |
| BrendanT |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 09:28:02
It even looks like the Life Won't Wait album cover by Rancid. Looks like Tim sitting on the step. Looks like corps will attempt anything to try and appear as something they are not!
Strummer-man
I had me a vision!
All of a sudden my water broke!
"There was a man Who made a boat To sail away And it sank.". |
| BLT |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 09:06:19
One message rings clear: Boycott Nike and buy clothing from American sweatshops instead. |
| floop |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 08:58:50
oh, here's the link:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/23.shtml |
| PsychicTwin |
Posted - 06/24/2005 : 08:56:48
Very interesting....
unfortunately, floop, the pics aren't showing up for me so I can't actually make a visual comparison. |
