Nirvana sues Marc Jacobs for copyright infringement

Rock band accuses designer of using Nirvana trademarks in his relaunched grunge collection.

Rock band Nirvana has accused designer Marc Jacobs of copyright infringement.

The band says that Nirvana trademarks have been used in the designer’s relaunched grunge collection, reports Fashion United.

In papers filed in a California federal court in December, the lawsuit states that the Nirvana smiley face logo was created by the band’s frontman and founder, Kurt Cobain, in 1991.

It states: “Nirvana has used that copyright-protected design and logo continuously since to identify its music”.

Fashion United reports that Marc Jacobs did not pay a licence fee to Nirvana to use the IP.

Marc Jacobs’ grunge collection was first introduced in 1992, taking inspiration from the aesthetics of underground grunge music.

The relaunch for resort 2019 includes 26 looks from the original collection. The logo is printed on a number of items and is shown under the word ‘Heaven’.

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