I shop a lot. I test gear. I baby my bags. I’ve also been burned by fakes. The sting stays. So I watch how brands handle it. When a brand uses its trademark and really fights, I notice. It feels like they’re guarding the door for all of us.
For the footnote-heavy version with docket numbers, you can read it on PrettyFakes.
Here’s what I’ve seen, used, and lived through, six times over.
For an even deeper dive into how knockoffs get busted and brands fight back, check out the detailed guides over at PrettyFakes.
Nike — The “Satan Shoes” Stop That Calmed My Group Chat
I run in Air Max and Blazers. So when those “Satan Shoes” hit my feed in 2021, my phone blew up. Friends thought Nike made them. They didn’t.
A studio called MSCHF tweaked real Air Max 97s. They added a pentagram. A drop of red ink. It was loud. Nike filed a trademark case in New York (the settlement later grabbed headlines on CNBC). The judge moved fast. Sales paused. A recall followed after a settlement. I remember telling my niece, “No, Nike didn’t make those.” Clarity felt good.
If rumor storms leave you spinning, it helps to hop into a friendly live chat before jumping to conclusions—one inclusive corner I lean on is GayChat, a free browser-based room where LGBTQ sneakerheads swap legit-check pics, untangle the latest drops, and keep each other from panic-buying fakes.
- What worked: Quick trademark action and a court order cut the confusion.
- What I felt: Relief. Also, less rumor fog around a brand I wear weekly.
Apple — The Fake Chargers That Made Me Toss a Cube
I once bought a cheap “Apple” charger online. It ran hot. It scared me. In 2016, Apple sued Mobile Star over fake Apple power adapters sold on big marketplaces (the lawsuit details were unpacked in this thorough MacRumors report). Apple said most test buys were bogus. A judge gave a restraining order. The case led to takedowns and safer listings.
The same heat-and-spark worries showed up when I tested counterfeit vapes; cheap cells are a gamble no logo can cover.
- What worked: Trademark claims tied to safety, not just logos.
- What I felt: Seen. Power bricks shouldn’t buzz like a beehive.
Chanel — A Resale Reality Check I Needed
I love vintage Chanel. I hunt for a good flap bag the way my aunt hunts yard sales. In 2024, a New York jury found What Goes Around Comes Around (a fancy reseller) liable for trademark issues and for selling some fake Chanel items. The verdict hit hard. The court also addressed how the shop used Chanel marks in ads.
I learned a similar lesson the hard way when I once road-tested a counterfeit Patek Philippe and watched the clasp fall apart in a week.
Like most resale addicts, I sometimes wander beyond fancy storefronts into local classified boards. If your scrolling ever takes you to college-town listings, the rundown at Backpage Lawrence breaks down seller signals, meet-up etiquette, and counterfeit red flags so you can eye a listing without setting yourself up for an impromptu fashion fail.
- What worked: Trademark law reached the resale space. That matters.
- What I changed: I now ask for full photos, serials, and a fresh third-party check. No shame in being picky.
Hermès — Art Is Cool, But So Are Rules
I like art. But I also like rules. Odd, right? Here’s why. In 2023, Hermès won its trademark case over “MetaBirkin” NFTs. A Manhattan jury said the tokens rode on the Birkin name in a way that misled folks. Hermès got damages and an order to stop that use.
- What worked: The Birkin mark held up even in a new tech space.
- What I felt: Balance. Make art, sure. Don’t confuse buyers on the brand.
New Balance — The Big “N” That Stayed New Balance (China)
My dad walks in New Balance on Sundays. That “N” is home to him. In China, knockoff shoes used a look-alike “N.” Courts there have stepped up. In one noted case, a Shanghai court ordered “New Barlun” to pay over 10 million yuan (more than $1.5 million) for trademark infringement tied to the “N” logo. That win got press and pushed copycats back.
That fight echoed a lot of the patterns I mapped in my bigger roundup of Chinese counterfeit goods — the factories pivot fast, but so can the courts.
- What worked: Clear logo rights, real money on the line.
- What I felt: Respect. Global fights take grit, not just glossy ads.
Harley-Davidson — Fake Tees Hit a Wall
I’ve grabbed a Harley tee at a gas station before. Once it felt off. Thin ink. Weird tag. In 2018, Harley-Davidson won a big case against SunFrog, an online print shop that let sellers post Harley logos on shirts. A federal court ordered over $19 million in damages and a stop to the sales.
- What worked: Trademark plus strong damages made a loud point.
- What I felt: Safer to pick up a tee without second-guessing the label.
So… Did These Fights Help Me As a Buyer?
Short answer: yes. Not every case is perfect. Some get appeals. Some settle. But each one sent a clear signal that fakes and fuzzy ads won’t fly. That shapes the shelves I shop and the tabs I open.
Here’s how it shows up in real life:
- Less confusion when a wild “collab” pops up online.
- Safer chargers and cords in my kitchen drawer.
- Better checks at resale shops, and better questions from me.
Tiny Tips I Use Now
This isn’t legal stuff. It’s just how I shop with less stress:
- Buy power gear straight from the brand or a big, known store.
- For luxury bags, ask for inside tags, serials, and macro photos of the stitch.
- Search “Brand + lawsuit + counterfeit” before big buys. Patterns pop fast.
- If a “deal” feels magic, I pause. Magic belongs on stage, not in checkout.
- For cards and other collectibles, compare print dots under a loupe—my deep dive into counterfeit baseball cards shows why.
Final Word From My Closet Floor
Trademarks can sound dry. But they guard the names we trust. When Nike shut down the shoe buzz, when Apple cleaned up sketchy bricks, when Chanel and Hermès drew lines, I felt it at home. Fewer fakes in my feeds. Fewer bad buys in my cart. And my dad? He still ties his New Balance and walks the block. That simple, steady “N” still means what it should.
I’ve even felt that hush of relief after a dealer confirmed my Krugerrand was real—especially after my misadventure with counterfeit gold coins.