Causes, trials and courts, are all things Nike will likely leave behind. Why? Simply because the United States Patent and Trademark Office has officially guaranteed trademark registration for the designs of the Air Jordan 1 (High, Low and Low SE).
The long war waged by the Swoosh against bootleg manufacturers is over. As reported by the Instagram account @sneakerlawfirm, an expert page in the sector of legislation related to footwear and fashion, the silhouette of the Air Jordan 1 is now considered the property of Nike. The benefits of the Beaverton company are now numerous. First of all, there is the possibility of legally prosecuting the brands that decide to work on the sneaker’s design even if they do not make radical changes. The story is probably also linked to Nike’s latest adventure with MSCHF for Satan Shoes. But certainly not the first.
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In 2020, Nike won an injunction against designer Warren Lotas and his Reaper sneakers, which were heavily “inspired” by the Nike SB Dunk Low. Lotas was prevented from selling the shoes beyond the pre-orders he had already shipped and reached a confidential agreement with the Swoosh in December 2020. In 2006,
Nike also filed a lawsuit against Ari Saal Forman, an artist who created the cult classic Menthol 10s: an Air Force 1-inspired silhouette in a color scheme from Newport’s cigarette box.
Nike struck a heavy blow against smugglers and achieved a new level of protection for the first Michael Jordan signature sneaker. It will be curious to find out what brands like Fugazi will now fall into. Will they choose other silhouettes, or will they work on the Air Jordan 1 Mid, the only ones excluded for now?
