Motorcycle Outlaws
Mention the Hells Angels, and that iconic death’s head symbol will surely pop into the mind of many.
But that infamous symbol is also trademarked, and the motorcycle club started in 1948 has recently filed suit in California Federal Court. The lawsuit alleges a few well-known designers are using the Hells Angels insignia without permission.
The main group targeted in the suit is Alexander McQueen. In the suit, the Angels Corporation say the “Hell’s Knuckle Duster Ring” and other apparel from Alexander McQueen use the motorcycle club’s famed symbol.
Named in the suit are PPR, the parent company of Alexander McQueen, and the stores that sell the products, Saks Fifth Avenue and Zappos.
This isn’t the first time the one-percenter motorcycle gang has sued. The New York Times reports that in 2006, the Angels filed a lawsuit against Disney for using the Hells Angels name and membership images in its script for the film “Wild Hogs.”
