Digitally clear Dischord

Dischord, the Fugazi-founded punk label, has just gone digital, opening an online store which offers pretty much the label's entire back catalogue in a mix of purchasing options:

This Dischord "digital" site offers a unique hybrid of the direct sale and subscription based download services (as well as the usual CDs, LPs, DVDs, etc). Customers have the option to download entire albums for a set price (usually $7), purchase Digital Credits (15 credits for $10) that can be used to download individual songs, or receive a free album download with the purchase of a 12" vinyl LP from our store.

There are plans to bring rarities to market, too, and an online streaming player. Punks not analogue.

Whigfield: Ian MacKaye

Despite what the internet might be telling you, Ian MacKaye out of Fugazi and Minor Threat is alive and well and hasn't died after being hit by a car outside a Fugazi gig.

Swoosh stickers

This week, Nike won a legal injunction against Skins, who had had the temerity to use the Swooshstika in an playful way in its advertising.

Nike, of course, had moral weight on its side:

"[T]his is a clear case of copyright infringement and a misuse of our logo," said a spokesman for Nike.

"We will take whatever steps we need to when we believe other companies are infringing."

Pretty clear cut, huh?

Of course, this is the same Nike who pinched Minor Threat's artwork and seemed puzzled when the punks weren't delighted:

All of the Nike employees responsible for the creation of the tour flyer are fans of both Minor Threat and Dischord records and have nothing but respect for both.

Minor Threat's music and iconographic album cover have been an inspiration to countless skateboarders since the album came out in 1984. And for the members of the Nike Skateboarding staff, this is no different. Because of the album's strong imagery and because our East Coast tour ends in Washington DC, we felt that it was a perfect fit.

There is a well-established principle that if you don't protect your trademark, it can lapse into the public domain. Maybe there should also be a principle that if you, as a company, violate other people's copyrights, your own should lose legal protection? It might focus the minds a little more, don't you think?