Eddie Van Halen Suing Nike Over Shoe Design

Rock god Eddie Van Halen filed a lawsuit against Nike in Los Angeles Friday. The famous guitar player says the mega sportswear company used the trademarked striped design from his guitar on their new line of “Dunk Lows” tennis shoes. The Nike shoes (photo below) feature red, white and black streaks along the mid-sole.

According to KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, the suit states that Van Halen received a 2001 copyright for the design on the body of his “Frankenstein” electric guitar.

Van Halen is not pleased about Nike’s alleged design impropriety; the court papers contend that Nike infringed on that copyright by using the design on sneakers without “consent, approval or license.”

Van Halen claims Nike is doing “irreparable harm and damage” to his signature design. The guitar superhero is seeking general and punitive damages, all profits arising from the sales of “Dunk Lows” and a permanent injunction halting production of the Nike shoes.

Van Halen recently launched a personal line of striped chucks under his EVH brand. Available at EVHgear.com, the shoes feature the stripes associated with the body of his classic ‘Frankenstein’ guitar.

Wait. Eddie Van Halen is designing shoes? The guy who rocks out on “Running with the Devil” and “Everybody Wants Some?” Oh, my sweet youth, where have you gone?

Still, if you look at the photos below Van Halen definitely has a right to question the Nike design. Then again I am a life-long fan of the guitarist, so when I see those stripes I immediately think of Eddie Van Halen. But if you’re not a super fan of Eddie Van Halen and the classic rock band that bears his last name, and didn’t hang those sweet posters of Eddie’s guitar in your living room when you were growing up, how would you really know about his famous guitar with the red, white and black stripes?

Can it just be a simple instance of creative coincidence?

Responding to Van Halen’s lawsuit, a spokesperson from Nike told Footwear News that the company was aware of the lawsuit but didn’t believe it had merit.

“Based on the information provided to us, we have not in fringed on any rights held by Mr. Van Halen,” the company said. “Nike’s Dunk shoe design is not substantially similar to any of the Van Halen designs, and Nike has not referenced the ‘Van Halen’ name or image as part of any marketing campaign or promotional material associated with the shoe.”

BeatCrave presents the evidence, you decide:

The Nike shoe vs. the famous ‘Frankenstein’ guitar

Does Eddie Van Halen have a legitimate case against Nike?