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Eddie Van Halen Files Lawsuit Against Nike

posted Jun 17, 2009 at 7:37 AM by Diamond Oz.  (26 Comments)

KTLA reports that EDDIE VAN HALEN filed a lawsuit against Nike in Los Angeles Friday (June 12th), alleging the company used the trademarked striped design from his guitar on their new line of "Dunk Lows" tennis shoes.

The Nike shoes feature red, white and black streaks along the midsole.

The suit states that Van Halen received a 2001 copyright for the design on the body of his "Frankenstein" electric guitar.

Court papers allege that Nike infringed on that copyright by using the design on sneakers without "consent, approval or license."

Source: BW&BK

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26 Comments on "Eddie Van Halen Files Lawsuit Against Nike"

Anonymous Reader

1. superstan23yea writes:

thats gay you shouldnt be able to sue over a random stripe pattern....its not like he uses the same pattern on any of his frankensteins.....the tape company should sue eddie for using the tape without "consent, approval or license." i would feel like an a$$ though if someone proved he did ask to use the tape.

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 9:38 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

2. Manny Mann writes:

You should feel like an a$$ for trying to make a point then quickly backtracking on it. And the pattern isn't random.

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 9:53 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
metalheaddrummer101's avatar

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3. metalheaddrummer101 writes:

that's a fail right there...It's just a fvcking shoe. He probably just wants some more money. I don't like nike at all, seeing as they use sweatshops and the like, but seriously...

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 11:25 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
tallica_fan's avatar

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4. tallica_fan writes:

its the most iconic f***ing guitar design of all time of course he should sue.

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 11:30 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
godlike's avatar

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5. godlike writes:

Eddie Van "Simmons" .... Hmmmm..??
This guy watches Ebay for all the home made guitars that even resemble his creations and makes
Ebay end the auction if it shows pictures or even mentions his name, initials or even the word Frankenstein in the description.!! Now that's ridiculous.!!


The Firm - Closer

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 11:31 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Rychemn's avatar

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6. Rychemn writes:

LMFAO..........I agree godlike, I think Eddie has been chatting with Mr.$immons or possibly Gene discovered it on e-bay, called Eddie, and asked if he could get in on some of the action, LOL!!!!

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 1:22 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Blindgreed1's avatar

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7. Blindgreed1 writes:

Actually I understand this completely. Eddie doesn't do this stuff himself, he pays an entertainment lawyer to protect his trademark. The lawyer is doing his job. It seems petty and money hungry at first glance but it's all just part of the music biz these days.

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 1:29 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
godlike's avatar

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8. godlike writes:

Now THAT wouldn't surprise me AT all..!! Gene Simmons is all about money..!!
I would not be surprised if that man has tried to copyrite the word copyrite.? LOFL

Seriously tho, I am a fanatic when it comes to watching Ebay for electric guitars... could possibly
be an obsession, but I haven't stopped looking at Ebay long enough to do the research..??
At any rate... I've seen auctions be stopped for no other reason than photos or certain words in the description.!
And then, in a matter of hours or the next day, the same guitar is re-listed with
the wording changed and a comment added to request photos if needed..!!
Some of those re-listings have actually stated that they were contacted by Ebay saying that because of legal actions they have had to end the auction..!!

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 1:35 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
godlike's avatar

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9. godlike writes:

Yeah, I guess I knew it wasnt really Eddie himself watching Ebay etc... but it does seem a bit
ridiculous some times..?


Billy Squier - The Big Beat

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 1:40 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Blindgreed1's avatar

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10. Blindgreed1 writes:

It is rediculous, but that's the biz brother. It got that way because the musicians that actually make the music got sick of being screwed by executives that robbed them blind.

NP: A Little Bit of What You Fancy - Saxon

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 2:26 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

11. Lawyers Suck writes:

Sad part is - if you own a property (intellectual or otherwise) - say a copyright, and do not enforce it allllll the time, when you do try and enforce it the defendant can use your lack of prior enforcement to get one over on you. Precedent. Legal. Crap. So - doubt that Eddie wants to crush all the little ebay folks with D-I-Y guitars in homage to his axe. However, if he lets it slide, he might get hosed by a big company some day.

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 2:39 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Terminator's avatar

Reviewer

12. Terminator writes:

Sounds like Eddie is trying to "tap" into nike's profits. (Horrible effort I know, but it had to be done) :P

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 4:05 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Blindgreed1's avatar

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13. Blindgreed1 writes:

Lawyers Suck: My point exactly. It's a shame that its come to this, but here we are.

Terminator: *shakes his head, sighs and rubs his eyes*

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 4:23 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

14. superstan23 writes:

my point was i seen lots of frankensteins with differnt patterns...its like if you used red tape to half a$$ fix something o yours then eddies sees it then sues you cuz your broke a$$ taped your shoes this is ridiculous....thats why someone should sue eddie for usin thier tape. one lameass suit for another

# Jun 17, 2009 @ 10:34 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
xman's avatar

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15. xman writes:

eddie rocks

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 2:36 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

16. EddieSuxballs writes:

Screw Eddie VH, he's a money grubbing control freak who's not even that impressive of a player.

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 3:37 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

17. b.bristowe writes:

Eddies bank must have dried up and his heroine must have gone missing.

A shadow of his former self. One of the greatest guitar players.

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 5:05 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
wilco's avatar

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18. wilco writes:

yeah people its al about the buisniss
and yea proberly he just talked to his lawyer for a moment and the lawyer said yeah we can make some music out of it

ots lika a story back home about a tribute band they did a cover of a band and the origanal band was al cool about it
untill the tribute band got a record contract than iit was not so coll any more
the band smetl money

but with eddy proberly he need some more money to feed his adiction or could be he spoke to gene or axel
well on the end its all about the big dollar

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 5:47 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
n0thinghead's avatar

Podcaster/Writer

19. n0thinghead writes:

LOUD NOISES!!!

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 8:58 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Blindgreed1's avatar

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20. Blindgreed1 writes:

I love lamp.

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 10:42 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Jamez's avatar

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21. Jamez writes:

Is this where the industry's going? The "old guys" just keep on suing everybody for whatever reasons. This is one of the dumbest of the whole lot

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 12:07 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

22. spiral_architect writes:

CHICKENFOOT ROCKS!! WHILE EDDIE VAN HALEN IS BUSY SUING SHOE COMPANIES, CHICKENFOOT IS MAKING KICKASS MUSIC. THE REAL HALF OF VAN HALEN ISN'T EDDIE AND ALEX..........IT'S SAMMY AND MICHAEL!

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 12:45 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

23. spiral_architect writes:

.......AND SAMMY CAN QUOTE ME! :D

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 12:46 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Rychemn's avatar

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24. Rychemn writes:

Is that album by chickenfoot really that good?..............Love the song "Spiral architect" from my all time favorite Sabbath album, "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"!!!!!!!!!!

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 1:06 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
dark666rage's avatar

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25. dark666rage writes:

before i can comment fairly on this i need to see the actual design they are b****ing about...lol

# Jun 18, 2009 @ 1:12 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
wilco's avatar

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26. wilco writes:

need to get chicken foot cd

# Jun 19, 2009 @ 6:17 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address

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