Inspiration can be derived from the most unlikely of places. Legendary Nike sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield created the Jordan V’s after seeing flames painted on a World War II plane. LaVar Ball, the patriarch of Big Baller Brand, allegedly drew inspiration for his son LaMelo’s new signature shoe, the Melo Ball 1’s, from a quaint ma-and-pa yoga studio in Ottawa, Ontario.
“Modern Body,” the aforementioned yoga studio, is accusing Big Baller Brand of stealing its logo for LaMelo’s debut signature shoe. Modern Body owner Hana Engel said her “jaw dropped” when she first saw the Melo Ball 1’s and has reportedly already had her lawyer send BBB a letter detailing her intent to take the company to court if it fails to abide by copyright law, The Score reports.
You be the judge.
Price for LaMelo Ball's shoe, The Melo Ball 1, is $395, $100 less than Lonzo's shoe. pic.twitter.com/cJFI3C76TQ
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 31, 2017
— ModernBody (@ModernBod) April 29, 2014
There aren’t many ways to jazz up the initials M and B. The Melo’s turn the vertical part of the B into a 1, differentiating it from Modern Body’s wildly creative logo.
The letter sent to BBB read:
“Any use of the Big Baller Mark in Canada by your client will be considered an infringement of our client’s exclusive trademark rights.” The letter gives them until September 29 to respond.
Modern Body owner Hana Engel told CTV Ottawa.
“I don’t want it to be, ‘oh she’s a little yoga studio in Ottawa Canada, who cares we can get away with this,’ it’s my logo and I protected it for a reason.”
You’re reaching, Hana, and I think you need to chill out and find your zen.
[h/t The Score]