Long Division or Nike V. Minor Threat : A Case Study in Intellectual Property Infringement

1. Long Division or Nike V. Minor Threat: A Case Study in Intellectual Property Infringement

3. V.

5. “Just do it.” Nike advertising slogan. “You are not what you own.” Ian MacKaye, singer and guitarist for Minor Threat, and Fugazi, founder of Dischord Records.

7. Nike is the Greek goddess of Victory.

9. Eris is the Greek goddess of Strife. Her Latinized name is Discordia. She is sometimes also referred to as Discord.

11. Nike Inc was founded by Philip Knight and Bill Bowerman in 1964, in Beaverton, OR.

14. Pop. 84,000 (2006)

15. Minor Threat was founded by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson in 1980, in Washington D.C. They founded Dischord Records the same year as a means to record, manufacture and release their own records as well as others of the D.C area hardcore punk scene.

18. Pop. 581,500 (2006)

19. One of Nike’s first products was its “waffle racer”. Many top Oregon runners began wearing the shoes, and the shoe's popularity grew quickly.

21. Dischord Records’ first release was Minor Threat’s First 7”. It is now regarded as one of the most important records by any punk band of the period.

23. Nike is now the world’s largest manufacturer and retailer of running shoes and sports apparel. As well, it has contracted lucrative endorsement deals with many of the world’s top professional athletes, including Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods.

28. Dischord Records is one of the most successful independent records labels in the world. They have released over 200 records, CDs, books and DVDs over more than twenty-five years by many influential artists including Minor Threat, Rites of Spring, and Fugazi.

33. In 2007, Nike’s revenue from sales is expected to exceed $16 billion. Surviving founder Philip Knight has reached #30 on Forbes Magazine’s list of richest Americans. He recently donated $105 million to Stanford Business School- the largest single donation ever given to a business program.

35. In June, 1995 Dischord Records released Fugazi’s Red Medicine LP. It would go on to reach #126 on Billboard Magazine’s Top 200 releases for that month. Founder Ian MacKaye owns his own house and is regarded as a legend in underground music. He played at the New Maryland Rec Centre in Fredericton, NB with Fugazi in July, 1998.

38. Nike Inc has been criticized for hiring labour overseas at below subsistence-level wages to work in sweatshop-like conditions.

42. Dischord Records founder Ian MacKaye has been criticized for the “straight-edge” philosophy espoused in Minor Threat lyrics. The term he coined eventually made its way into the dictionary: Straight-edge: adj.Advocating abstinence from alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sex and sometimes advocating vegetarianism. Dictionary.com

46. In March, 2002, Nike Inc introduced its Nike Skateboarding (Nike SB) line of apparel. In October, 2002, Dischord Records released its 20 Years of Dischord boxed set.

49. In June, 2005, Nike Skateboarding created an advertising campaign entitled “Major Threat” to promote an American tour of pro-skateboarders. The flyer used to promote this event bears a striking similarity to the cover of three releases by Minor Threat.