Last Update: 30 June 2023
Once upon a time, the notoriously world renowned, Harley-Davidson riding motorcycle “biker” club the “Hells Angels” filed a law suit in California federal court. The suit claims that Alexander McQueen and retailers, such as Saks Fifth Avenue are selling four-finger rings, clutch purses and clothing featuring the motorcycle club’s distinct death-head skull and wings logo. The Hells Angels motorcycle club state that this is a trademark infringement of their skull and wings logo which has been the worldwide symbol for the club since approximately 1948. On March 17, 1948 the first Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was founded in the Fontana/San Bernardino area in California. The gang is fiercely protective of its trademarked logo and name.
“This isn’t just about money, it’s about membership,” Hells Angels lawyer Fritz Clapp (check out his twitter page), a Los Angeles-based biker who sports a red Mohawk, told the New York Post. “If you’ve got one of these rings on, a member might get really upset that you’re an imposter”, he exclaims. And well, every motorcyclist knows, we don’t want to upset “Hells Angels”.
The Hell’s Angel web site underlines the fact that their Hells Angel and skull logo are trademarks. They are officially owned by Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation, registered in the USA and in numerous other countries. The group is reportedly concerned that the Alexander McQueen Hells Angels collection will cause damage to the long-established Hells Angels brand.
Most of the merchandise has been removed but there are still some sellers on Internet claiming to have the items for sale.
Might be indeed an interesting collectable if suits your budget! Though, based on their reputation, one certainly wouldn’t want to provoke any conflicts with these bikers!
*Source New York Post