That’s What He Gets for Just Doing It

Nike Inc. calls it trademark infringement. T-shirt designer Michael Stanard calls it a joke.

Stanard sells shirts with the name Mike above the “swoosh” that is part of Nike’s trademark. The sneaker giant sued.

Last year, a federal judge ordered Stanard to stop selling clothing bearing the design. But a panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision this week, ruling that a jury should decide the issue.

Says Stanard’s attorney: “Almost everyone who has looked at this . . . knows it’s a joke.”

Beaverton, Ore.-based Nike isn’t laughing, but perhaps it should. After all, it earned $365 million last fiscal year to Stanard’s net loss of $1,299.41.