Almost 31 years after he captured the photo, a photographer is coming after Nike for copyright infringement.
Jacobus Rentmeester is suing Nike in federal court in Oregon for what he says is a recreation of his original photo of Michael Jordan from the 1984 Olympics.
Nike’s Peter Moore, who designed the first Air Jordans, paid $150 for temporary use of Rentmeester’s images but the photographer insists that the Jumpman logo created by Nike afterwards is essentially his work.
This is Rentmeester’s original photo of Michael Jordan before the Jumpman version appeared with Jordan in Bulls gear with the Chicago skyline in the background.
A dude named Jacobus Rentmeester is beefing with @Nike over the Jumpman logo; http://t.co/xnPVK6wwzb pic.twitter.com/XbIu2UFF6v
— SneakerMob.com (@SneakerMob) January 23, 2015
The New York native is seeking profits associated with the Jordan brand and he is also looking to halt current sales and plans for the brand’s future.
Silhouette comparisons of Jacobus Rentmeester's photo of Michael Jordan, left, and Nike's Jumpman logo, right. pic.twitter.com/XLJBGOxFC4
— Jonathan Mason (@ATLShowBizLaw) January 24, 2015
The right-hand-side logo is synonymous with Air Jordan and Nike products now but Rentmeester reckons it is his work. So, what do you think? Does he have a case?
