A federal judge has sided with Nike in ordering a Brooklyn company to temporarily halt further sales of so-called “Satan Shoes” it produced in collaboration with the rapper Lil Nas X.
U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee in Brooklyn made the ruling Thursday, three days after Nike sued MSCHF Product Studio, claiming that the black-and-red, devil-themed sneakers, which carry the iconic Nike “swoosh” logo, violated its trademarks.
The shoes are customized versions of Nike’s Air Max 97 sneakers printed with “Luke 10:18,” a biblical passage referring to Satan’s fall from heaven. As part of the gimmick, the manufacturer claimed each pair contains one drop of human blood in the midsoles.
Only 666 pairs, costing $1,018 each, were made. American rapper Lil Nas X, known for the song “Old Town Road,” was planning to select who gets the 666th pair via social media, but the promotion was canceled following Nike’s lawsuit.
“MSCHF strongly believes in the freedom of expression,” MSCHF Product Studio said in a statement following the ruling. “We look forward to working with Nike and the court to resolve this case in the most expeditious manner.”
