I’m not too proud to admit that any topic that allows me to have a file named “facebutt.jpg” on my desktop is motivation enough to write, but as someone who has also gotten threatening “your name is too close to mine” calls (I’m looking at you, Michael Flatley) this story is even closer to my heart.
Apparently, sick of paying $179 for North Face jackets, 18-year-old Jimmy Winkelmann decided to take matters into his own hands and started up The South Butt clothing line which, let’s face it, is hilarious.
The North Face, however, doesn’t seem to see the humor and is suing the college freshman for copyright infringement. Putting aside for a minute the fact that shoddy videos like this could hardly pose a threat to a comparatively giant company with several snazzy AORs, is it really worth the bad press to squash it? In my case, discovering The South Butt reminded me that The North Face even still existed, so that’s all good for them, right? But I am not of their outdoorsy demographic, so maybe that’s moot.
Winkelmann’s attorney, meanwhile, wins the trophy for Best Legal Statement Ever, defending the teen by arguing that “There appears to be little recognition, if any, that the savvy of consumers precludes anyone from confusing a face with a butt.”