Courtney Love, Frances Bean Cobain and Dave Grohl Working Together in Nirvana Legal Battle
Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain, along with NIRVANA members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic have joined together for the legal battle against designer Marc Jacobs over a design featured in the brand’s “Redux Grunge” collection. According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Marc Jacobs is planning on calling all four of them as witnesses in the case.
Last year, Nirvana L.L.C. sued Marc Jacobs accusing the famed designer of ripping off the iconic NIRVANA image of a squiggly yellow smiley face, which it claims to have trademarked in 1992. The Marc Jacobs version features an M and a J instead of Xs for its eyes (as in the NIRVANA version), and it reads “HEAVEN” instead of “NIRVANA” in a typeface similar to the band’s font.
Jacobs defended himself, saying that he basically introduced the world to grunge. The designer claims that since his original “grunge” collection, he has referenced the style in many collections. He says the smiley face is his work and not NIRVANA‘s. He is demanding the lawsuit be tossed.
The exact origin and meaning of the iconic NIRVANA “smiley face” logo with its crossed-out eyes and its drooling mouth are unclear, but most people believe it was drawn by Kurt Cobainand made its first appearance on a flyer for the release party for his band’s “Nevermind”album in September 1991.
Kurt Cobain took his own life at his house in Seattle on April 5, 1994 at the age of 27.
The 20th anniversary of his death led to a resurgence of interest in its circumstances, which was heightened by the release of never-before-seen photos from the scene.
The anniversary fell just a few days before NIRVANA was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The surviving members of the band gave a four-song performance at the ceremony, with Joan Jett, SONIC YOUTH‘s Kim Gordon, Lorde and St. Vincent singing in place of Cobain.
Last year, Nirvana L.L.C. sued Marc Jacobs accusing the famed designer of ripping off their iconic Nirvana image of a smiley face, which they claim to have trademarked.
Love is a member of a company that owns Nirvana L.L.C., the company suing Jacobs.
The suit took issue with a collection by Marc Jacobs named “Bootleg Redux Grunge,” which featured a similar looking smiley face on socks, shirts, and sweaters.
Jacobs fired back and defended himself, saying he basically introduced the world to grunge. He even called out Courtney Love and Frances Bean Cobain, saying they had been close friends for decades.
The designer claims since his original “grunge” collection, he has referenced the style in many collections. He says the smiley face in his work is his work and not Nirvana’s.
He is demanding the lawsuit be tossed.
