Home to one of the most celebrated icons in the history of music, the Nets and the city of Brooklyn decided to add a new twist to their uniforms this year to honor Notorious B.I.G.
The Nets would add Coogi’s trademark print to their alternate “city edition” Nike jerseys, however the clothing brand is now set to sue the franchise. According to NY Post’s Priscilla DeGregory and Tamar Lapin, Coogi will sue the Nets for their so-called ‘Brooklyn Camo’ design.
A New York-based clothing brand once hyped by Notorious B.I.G. is accusing Nike, the NBA and the Nets of swiping their iconic designs.
Coogi claims a special 2018-2019 Nike “City Edition” Nets jersey, with a pattern called “Brooklyn Camo,” imitates its distinctive, colorful — and copyrighted designs, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court.
“[The defendants] were well aware that Biggie neither wore nor rapped about anything called ‘Brooklyn Camo,” the lawsuit reads.
“But they created, marketed and sold and distributed ‘Brooklyn Camo’ products so as to confuse consumers about the connection between their goods… and Coogi.”
Though the NBA and the Nets would label their design as separate from Coogi, it’s blatantly obvious their inspiration was taken from the popular clothing brand. Coogi has been a staple in hip-hop for years now and was popularized by B.I.G. in the 1990s with his track ‘Hypnotize’ and a photo he took in the brand’s printed sweater.
It team clever idea for the Nets to honor their city’s biggest and most well-known icon but it appears that it will now backfire for them. The team donned the controversial city edition jerseys for the first time in a November matchup against the Knicks.
The Nets aren’t fazed by the upcoming lawsuit, as they seem to be set on wearing the uniforms again this Friday against the Hornets according to their Instagram page.
