Marc Jacobs denies stealing the iconic Nirvana smiley face LOGO design for his ‘HEAVEN’ fashion collection.
In December 2018, it was reported the American fashion designer was being sued by the 1990s grunge band for using their signature happy face logo on his apparel.
A squiggly yellow smiley face illustration first appeared on a flyer for a release party for the ‘Nevermind’ album in 1991. The design was later trademarked by the band in 1992. Jacobs has now filed a response demanding the lawsuit be dismissed, according to Pitchfork.
Marc Jacobs responds to Nirvana’s smiley face logo lawsuit https://t.co/RHL1HysJXy pic.twitter.com/6EtrFLsZ1u
— billboard (@billboard) March 11, 2019
The dismissal argues the smiley face design which appears on a Marc Jacobs T-shirt, sweatshirt and a pair of socks did not copy elements of Nirvana’s happy face logo.
The document states Jacobs “drew inspiration from the looks that his friends were wearing in downtown Manhattan and in the Pacific Northwest” when he introduced his “grunge” collection in 1992, while working as creative director for American fashion brand Perry Ellis.
It outlines how the fashion designer “continued to be inspired by grunge style and incorporate grunge references” throughout his career, after launching his eponymous label.
