Lil Nas X, Nike Deal Ducks Tension Between Speech, Trademark (1)

The Satan Nikes sold by rapper Lil Nas X drew public ire and provoked a corporate giant, but also intrigued attorneys with the question they raised about the intersection of trademark and First Amendment rights.

Art collective MSCHF Product Studio settled with Nike Inc. a week after a court ordered it to stop selling Nike shoes altered with demon iconography during litigation. MSCHF produced the shoes in collaboration with Lil Nas X.

The parties had appeared set to engage over the point where a brand owner can shut down an artist crying free speech, among other interesting areas of trademark ...