I think I'm going to vomit

[DeleteYourself]

reposted from pitchfork (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com)

. . .

Nike Campaign "Borrows" Album Art Exhibit A:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/img/x-minor.jpg

Exhibit B:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/img/x-major.jpg




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 ****ing 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/

[Mynock]

no pictures :(

[morea]

wow, that's BAD.

[DeleteYourself]

Ian MacKaye should firebomb Nike's offices.

[Mynock]

Nike is coming out with a sandal for transvestites. Here is their new ad. It's really original.

[Neballer]

Did they think nobody would notice because all the kids that skate these days probably have no idea who Minor Threat is? Tis a shame it is - a damn shame. What I think is funny are the people who are on Nike's team. Those be some old school mfers - and I'd bet that back in the day when Nike first started to infiltrate the skateboard industry, they were all, "No way dude - take your big corporation and shuvit - we're keepin it old school." I guess it goes to show you how big this industry has gotten. Whatever - at least Vinnie Ponte is still around.

[DeleteYourself]

Word. Nike is the devil, and everyone knows it.

[Allen Harkleroad]

If you are going to vomit at least have a bag of zipzorb handy to clean it up...

(LOL).

[BlackBox]

I think it's ok as long as Ian is ok with it...I've been straight edge for as long as i can remeber and grew up with minor threat and would love to see more kids get the message. Would you rather see nike using a crack whore or a drunk in an add?

[DeleteYourself]

reposted from pitchfork (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com)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."


I'm sure Ian is not ok with it.

[Ghastly]

I think the designer that is responsible for this outrage and the HR team that hired him/her is the devil not Nike. The world is full of pretentious *******s who just pick someones idea from a far away land and claim it as their own because chances are that for the time being no one will be informed as to where it came from. True the CEO and bigwigs of the Nike corporation will have seen the design and may have approved it, but they didn't devise the concept (neither did the designer) they probably never heard of that album or saw the designwork for it



I hate plageurism...absolubtely despise it, I'm sure that with better interrogation (questioning) on the part of employers/clients a lot of these fraudsters can be unmasked, instead of being awestruck by copycats & peoples chrome filtered, lens-flare encrusted copy & pasted imagery and comic sans / brushscript typography

[uncle carbunkle]

I think it's ok as long as Ian is ok with it...I've been straight edge for as long as i can remeber and grew up with minor threat and would love to see more kids get the message. Would you rather see nike using a crack whore or a drunk in an add?

congratulations on your lifestyle choice.

i don't think that it would be in an athletic shoe companies best interest to use a 'crack whore', (charming, by the way), or drunk in an add, but i would prefer to see that as opposed to full on plagiarism.

if they were going to so blatantly rip-off minor threat, it would have to be a) as a pastiche or 'send up' and would have to be, at some point, okayed by both parties. otherwise, lawsuits could ensue; or b) a big ole' publicity stunt...

the fact that they've said 'major threat' leads me to believe...well, hell - who knows? either somebody didn't think they'd get noticed, or it's a preplanned publicity dealio.

i'm curious to see how it all pans out.

[3howards]

tis tis

[D-Zine]

I knew I didn't wear Nike's for some reason!

Seriously that's pretty sad that Nike did that...and pretty disgusting.

[DeleteYourself]

i mean, it's highly likely that this was a spoof on minor threat, especially because the skateboarding industry has a long and storied history of spoofing brands on decks, t-shirts, stickers, etc. there's nothing wrong with a good spoof.

but what bothers me most is the fact that Nike (the epitomy of corporate greed and cutthroat capitalism at any cost) is attempting to align itself and profit off of minor threat/ian mackeye/dischord records (the epitomy of socially-concious d.i.y. punk for the enlightenment of the everyman) is just absolutely appalling.

the sad part is, dischord vs. nike in a legal battle is just not going to happen. dischord simply doesn't have that kind of money.

btw, if you don't know anything about dischord (fugazi's label), please do yourself a favor and read up on them. they are committed to the perpetuation of music on an independent label and dedicated to keeping prices of albums and shows down to the absolute bare minimum for the good of the music scene. they are, in my opinion, one of the last entities in the music world that any dignity and integrity left.

[Mynock]

come on people imitation is the sincerest form of flattery :P

[morea]

sureeeee it is... lemme borrow your credit card and immitate you for a while.

[D-Zine]

LOL @ morea!

Thanks for the info about dischord Delete!

[Rocketpig]

come on people imitation is the sincerest form of flattery :P

I have no problem "copying" a certain art style (such as the now ubiqutous use of common 70's imagery and colors or "parodying" the artwork style of Neagle or something along those lines), but to blatantly attempt to recreate the same photograph and using the exact same style of presentation is just pathetic.

Really, Nike should know better.

[DeleteYourself]

I sent Nike an e-mail expressing my outrage. Everyone else should do the same.

[Vikia]

Definitely what NOT to do if you are working for a corporation and you do not want to lose your job. Copying is still copying and changing a color or a word does not make it okay. For some uninformed designers, there is a misconception that if they change something, they have somehow made it their own...then it is ok to use. WRONG!

You can see this in the fashion industry all the time. You see all the fashion on Oscar night and the next morning they show the knock-offs on the Today Show...promoting the knock-offs. But they changed the material to something cheaper, so it is different?

Ian MacKaye should sue for copyright infringement of his design idea.

Baaaaaaaadddddd! Nike baaaaaddddd!

[morea]

where did you send it to, DY? what email addy?

[DeleteYourself]

i went on nike.com (http://www.nike.com), there's a form you fill out, morea.

[morea]

nifty, thanks!

[DeleteYourself]

holy crap! David beat Goliath!

Nike Pulls Major Threat Ad, Issues Apology
reposted from pitchfork (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com)
. . .

Caroline Bermudez reports:
On Thursday, we reported that Nike Skateboarding used a classic Minor Threat album cover for its "Major Threat" 2005 East Coast Tour posters without asking permission. Much had been heard from the justifiably angry Dischord Records camp, including former Minor Threat frontman and label co-founder Ian MacKaye, who expressed his outrage towards the sneaker conglomerate. Nike had remained oddly silent until yesterday, when it issued a formal apology to both Dischord and Minor Threat.

In its letter of mea culpa, Nike Skateboarding states, "Because of the album's strong imagery, and because our East Coast tour ends in Washington DC, we felt it was a perfect fit. This was a poor judgment call and should not have been executed without consulting Minor Threat and Dischord Records." The letter also says that the advertising agencies Wieden & Kennedy and Odopod should not share blame for the poster image. Furthermore, Nike Skateboarding has removed all print and digital flyers for the tour bearing the Minor Threat image.

In an attempt to make peace with the legendary hardcore band, the letter extends this olive branch: "All of the Nike employees responsible for the creation of the tour flyer are fans of both Minor Threat and Dischord records [sic] and have nothing but respect for both." See guys, it was a case of idol worship gone terribly wrong! Nike is totally down with underground music and skate culture.

It is unclear whether Dischord will pursue future action against Nike. No responses to the letter have been made by MacKaye or anyone else at Dischord.

Here's the apology in full:

June 27, 2005

To: Minor Threat, Dischord Records and fans of both

Re: Major Threat East Coast Tour Poster

Nike Skateboarding sincerely apologizes for the creation of a tour poster inspired by Minor Threat's album cover. Despite rumors being circulated, Wieden & Kennedy and Odopod had nothing to do with the creation of this tour poster and should not be held accountable. To set the record straight, Nike Skateboarding's "Major Threat" Tour poster was designed, executed and promoted by skateboarders, for skateboarders. All of Nike employees responsible for the creation of the tour flyer are fans of both Minor Threat and Dischord Records and have nothing but respect for both.

Minor Threat's music and iconographic album cover have been an inspiration to countless skateboarders since the album came out in 1984. And for members of the Nike Skateboarding staff, this is no different. Because of the album's strong imagery and because our East Coast tour ends in Washington, DC, we felt that it was a perfect fit. This was a poor judgment call and should not have been executed without consulting Minor Threat and Dischord Records.

We apologize for any problems this may have caused, and want to make very clear that we have no relationship with the members of Minor Threat, Dischord Records and they have not endorsed our products.

Every effort has been made to remove and dispose of all flyers (both print and digital). Again, Nike Skateboarding sincerely apologizes to Minor Threat and Dischord Records.

Sincerely,
Nike Skateboarding

* Nike apology: http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding/v2/letter/index.html
* Pitchfork News: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/23.shtml

[D-Zine]

Whoa! Ain't that some shit! ... *waiting for reply*

!!!

[morea]

http://www.forumspile.com/owned/Owned-Kick.jpg

[Magnus]

LOL...great picture.

[jimintn]

Magnus!!!

I may not post enough to say this....but it's good to see ya!

[morea]

you did it... didn't you Magnus? You infiltrated Nike headquarters and worked up this ad to get them in trouble. LOL :D

[Russian girl]

Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Lover of Russian Love Machines!!!
http://dontsova.net/forum/images/smiles/12.gif