One would have to be highly brazen (and somewhat clueless) not only to return fake Nike to a Nike store but also to record and brag about it. However, that's precisely what YouTuber Eban "Cedaz" Fox did, and to no surprise at all, Nike is now suing him. Nike has a strong reputation for protecting the swoosh. It is currently locked up in litigation, with several other brands threatening its reputation.
Officially, Nike has filed a suit against Fox for trademark infringement in Florida federal court and accused him of using his platform to push counterfeit Nike products. "Cedaz" openly promotes replica sneakers from several brands and benefits from affiliate marketing, where he is paid a small commission for every pair he helps sell. What brought the most attention to his operation was a video where he took a fake pair of Air Force 1 Lows and returned them to a Nike store for a refund on the actual sale price. The video has amassed 600,00+ views on YouTube but may ultimately bring about his undoing.
The suit notes that Fox operates a Discord Community that helps members obtain replica goods and openly attempts to deceive them into buying the knock-offs. Nike is seeking all expenses pertaining to the suit and a sum equal to triple the damages they have deemed Fox to have caused to their business. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more coverage on the business of sneakers and all the latest release info.
Images via US District Court