Nike Fined Over $74,000 For Putting Its Jersey on a Historic Statue

Nike and French marketing company Ubi Bene have been fined nearly $75,000 each after defiling a Winston Churchill statue.

Image via BuzzFlip

In 2011, Nike enlisted the help of marketing company Ubi Bene to celebrate the French National Basketball team's entry into the European Championships by draping a famous statue with Tony Parker's jersey. Sounds harmless enough, right?

Unfortunately, the sculptor behind the Winston Churchill figure, Jean Cardot, wasn't pleased with what he called a defiling of his work and says Nike and Ubi Bene should have asked permission first. 

Last month, a Paris court echoed Cardot's sentiments, stating that using his work for commercial gain could be considered defilement. The ruling called for both Nike and Ubi Bene to pay Cardot €67,500 ($74,267) compensation, which means the artist will walk away with nearly $150,000 in total. All that for a basketball jersey?