// Nike has filed a lawsuit against art collective MSCHF for launching “Satan Shoes”
// MSCHF has used Nike Air Max 97s without Nike’s approval or authorisation
// Nike has accused the company of trademark infringement
Nike is suing Brooklyn-based art collective MSCHF after it launched “Satan Shoes” using modified Nike Air Max 97s.
The shoes contain a drop of real human blood – donated by members of the art collective – in the soles, and are priced at $1,018 (£740).
MSCHF released 666 pairs of the shoes on Monday in collaboration with singer and rapper Lil Nas X and said they were sold out in less than a minute.
READ MORE: Nike revenue rises but Europe sales drop due to Covid-19 restrictions
The shoes also feature an inverted cross, a pentagram and the words “Luke 10:18”.
Nike has accused the company of trademark infringement by filing with the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York that it does not approve or authorise the customised Satan Shoes.
Nike is asking the court to stop MSCHF from selling the shoes and prevent them from using its famous Swoosh design mark.
“MSCHF and its unauthorised Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF’s products and Nike,” Nike said.
“In fact, there is already evidence of significant confusion and dilution occurring in the marketplace, including calls to boycott Nike in response to the launch of MSCHF’s Satan Shoes, based on the mistaken belief that Nike has authorised or approved this product.”
Last year, MSCHF chief executive Gabriel Whaley told Business Insider that the company runs on “structured chaos” — with no project or idea being off limits.
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