Nike Bape Lawsuit: 2 Decades Too Late… But Who’s Counting?
It was nice while it lasted! The peace y’all, the peace. “Sighs.” We’ve been walking on eggshells since the beginning of 2023, in hopes of not jinxing the year. And as we’ve said over and over again, 2022 drowned us with shitty news. Heaven knows we didn’t need any of that dragging through this year. And we did have high hopes. We really did. But hope in this industry is as good as a sneaker bot without good sneaker proxies. Nothing is ever guaranteed. So, what exactly are we rambling on about here, you ask? Well, sneaker fam, Nike’s lawsuit ritual is hitting hard again. This time it’s a Nike Bape lawsuit for trademark infringement. 20 years too late, but who’s counting?
What Is Bape? A Quick Look At A Bathing Ape History
Before we get to the deets of how and when shit went down between the two labels that led to a Nike Bape lawsuit, let’s see what Bape is. Influenced by the 20th-century culture, his love for the 1968’s Planet of the Apes movie, and his reference to the Japanese idiom “A bathing ape in lukewarm water,” are what inspired Nigo in the development of his brand. A Bathing Ape was established in Japan in 1993. Ten years later, its products started creeping through the US market. And that’s when the hype began as the brand tipped the scales. Its colorful-as-shit designs became a staple for streetwear fashion in the hip-hop culture.
Bape’s most famous kick, the Bape Sta, resembled a very Nike Air Force 1 design. Although that too-colorful colorway and the logo- cartoon-like shooting star- are enough to tell the two designs apart, Nike ain’t buying it no more. But the question remains. Why now? Well, let’s find out together!
Nike Bape Lawsuit: 20 Years Worth Of Pent-Up Frustration
When Bape Sta started hitting the market, people started actually questioning whether the drop was a Nike x Bape collab. But Nigo did put in the effort back in 2010 as he changed the design to look less-AF1s. That shift lasted till 2020 when Bape hit again with a very Nike-lookalike sneaker design. But we don’t really know if it was good luck or Nike turning a blind eye towards Bape designs that it didn’t include it in any lawsuit. And trust us when we say, the Swoosh was filing these left and right like there’s no tomorrow. But that stroke of luck seems to have ended now.
Last week we were hit by a Nike Bape lawsuit news. Nike’s accusing the latter of trademark infringement. “Bape’s current footwear business revolves around copying Nike’s iconic designs,” is what Nike said in its lawsuit regarding the matter. The lawsuit also points out as-clear-as-daylight similarities between Nike and Bape’s designs. The latest of them being Court Sta High and Air Jordan 1 High. Again we ask: why now?
Now here’s the real tea. According to Nike, the amount of Bape designs was insignificant in the US, up until 2021. When Bape started selling more “copies of iconic Nike designs.” And that was the last straw before Nike finally took the step. In simple words fam, Bape kinda started growing and competing in a marketplace where Nike reigns. So, what better way to overcome uprising competitors than by ending their popular designs once and for all?
What’s Your Alternative For Now?
You’d think a Nike Bape lawsuit would stop the sneaker giant– or at least slow it down- from filling the market with dope designs. But nope. The most anticipated 2023 releases are mostly Nike! I mean, the Swoosh did start 2023 strong with dope drops. And it looks like it ain’t stopping anytime soon. So, if you’re in to start learning about sneaker copping, you can pick the kicks you want. Invest in a Nike bot. Learn about proxies, then pick the right ones for ya. Hook your bot to a kick-ass server, and you’ll be as ready as shit to kick-start the reselling game! Adios Shit Fam!
