Artnet News reports that the U.S. street artist Futura is suing The North Face (TNF) for allegedly copying the stylized swirled atom design that has for years appeared throughout his artwork in its 2019 Futurelight collection of apparel, subsequently expanded to various accessories. According to Artnet, the artist’s filing, which was submitted to the California Central District Court on Jan. 12., reads: “The similarity of the graphic designs and the names is no coincidence: [North Face] purposefully invoked [Futura] in order to suggest an association with him.” The artist, whose real name is Leonard McGurr, is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and is calling for the products to be removed from the marketplace. TNF has previously collaborated with Futura, who has also had creative partnerships with Nike, Uniqlo, LVMH, Comme des Garçons and others.

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