News May 2006
On Your Bike Nike!
Hackney Council is calling on Nike to compensate the young people of Hackney for their misappropriation of the Council's logo for use on a World Cup range of sportswear. The Council has threatened Nike with legal action, after the global sportswear giant produced a range of kit and equipment bearing an exact replica of the Council's logo, without seeking permission. The Council is demanding financial compensation to spend on sports development in the borough.
The Hackney Council logo, a round 'H' surrounded by the words 'The London Borough of Hackney', has been in use since it was designed for the Council in 1965. The logo, which appears on public buildings, council vans, staff uniforms and street signs across Hackney, has been used by Nike on t-shirts, vests, trainers and footballs designed to promote Nike's grassroots football campaign for the World Cup.
Hackney's newly re-elected Mayor Jules Pipe said:
'We have been using this logo for more than 40 years - since before England last won the World Cup! I was shocked that such a huge global company would use it without even approaching us for permission. Nike is one of the biggest sportwear companies in the world. They are selling this stuff everywhere - some of our residents have seen it in shops in Spain, and we have seen it marketed on the internet in Japan, Germany, the US and Italy. They have not offered a penny in compensation to the people of Hackney.
'One way of putting this right could be giving us a fair percentage of the retail price and some sportswear for every school child in the borough. Nike have taken, for their own profit, something that belongs to the people of Hackney. They have now offered to meet us for talks and I hope they will have the decency to offer a fair settlement and save this going to court.
'We have asked them to withdraw all merchandise until this issue can be settled. I also want assurances from Nike that all this kit has been ethically produced.'
Mayor Pipe pledged to spend every penny gained from Nike on sports development in the borough. He added
'Nike has made a tidy profit out of Hackney. Now it's time they put something back for the young people of the borough.'
Extract from the Stoke Newington and Hackney Observer 7th May 1965 with new Hackney Council logo article.
Page updated: 28 Feb 2007