Van Halen Vs. Nike

06/17/09 3:36pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Eddie Van Halen is suing Nike because he says the colour scheme on their new Dunk Lows shoes rips off the pattern on his signature Frankenstein guitar.

Van Halen has used the design on his Fender Stratocaster guitar since 1978 and he's had it trademarked since 2001. One part of the shoes features black and white lines crossing each other on a red background.

Van Halen's company, ELVH Inc., filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Friday that says the shoes do "irreparable harm and damage" to his design. He is seeking damages including all profits from sales of the shoes and wants a permanent injunction so they can no longer be produced. He also wants all the existing pairs of the Dunk Lows impounded and destroyed.

Nike denies copying the Frankenstein guitar's design and says Van Halen's lawsuit is baseless.

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

Van Halen released his own shoes, which use the guitar's pattern, earlier this year.