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ST. LOUIS MO (KPLR) -
The popular clothing line, North Face, is going after a local teen for a product he's selling in St. Louis. You've probably seen North Face shirts, jackets and shorts. Now a St. Louis college freshman is selling something similar.
His products look a lot like North Face shirts, but instead they are called South Butt. They are making a lot of people laugh, but not the North Face lawyers. You can see the South Butt clothes as soon as you walk inside the Ladue Pharmacy, grabbing the attention of customers. One of them said "I thought it was kind of funny."
However, this controversy is no laughing matter for the South Butt creator, Jimmy Winkelmann. Jim Winkelmann, the father of the Mizzou freshman, was shocked when North Face sent a letter asking his son's South Butt line to "immediately" stop production. Jim Winkelmann said "We don't understand why they were taking this aggressive posture."
According to the letter, North Face owns the trademark for the half dome design. Winkelmann's design is very similar, but Albert Watkins, attorney for South Butt believes the differences are obvious. Watkins said "I did try to explain with a great deal of candor to counsel for the North Face that the general public is aware of the difference between a face and a butt."
In fact, Winkelmann's dad says the whole idea behind his son's creation is to offer customers an alternative.
The college freshman's father said his son "Was worried at first that the North Face was taking this action, you know. I think now he's pretty excited to get the message out there to people again who don't want to wear the North Face."
For now, sales will continue, even though they could lead to a legal showdown between the North Face and the South Butt.
Jimmy Winkelmann is coming home from Mizzou Monday night to address these legal issues, and was not available to talk with News 11. Calls to North Face were not returned.
His products look a lot like North Face shirts, but instead they are called South Butt. They are making a lot of people laugh, but not the North Face lawyers. You can see the South Butt clothes as soon as you walk inside the Ladue Pharmacy, grabbing the attention of customers. One of them said "I thought it was kind of funny."
However, this controversy is no laughing matter for the South Butt creator, Jimmy Winkelmann. Jim Winkelmann, the father of the Mizzou freshman, was shocked when North Face sent a letter asking his son's South Butt line to "immediately" stop production. Jim Winkelmann said "We don't understand why they were taking this aggressive posture."
According to the letter, North Face owns the trademark for the half dome design. Winkelmann's design is very similar, but Albert Watkins, attorney for South Butt believes the differences are obvious. Watkins said "I did try to explain with a great deal of candor to counsel for the North Face that the general public is aware of the difference between a face and a butt."
In fact, Winkelmann's dad says the whole idea behind his son's creation is to offer customers an alternative.
The college freshman's father said his son "Was worried at first that the North Face was taking this action, you know. I think now he's pretty excited to get the message out there to people again who don't want to wear the North Face."
For now, sales will continue, even though they could lead to a legal showdown between the North Face and the South Butt.
Jimmy Winkelmann is coming home from Mizzou Monday night to address these legal issues, and was not available to talk with News 11. Calls to North Face were not returned.
