Photographer sues Nike over use of Michael Jordan photo

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A photographer is accusing Nike of violating the copyright of his 1984 image of Michael Jordan soaring toward a basketball hoop by continuing to use the image to market shoes and clothes.

Jacobus Rentmeester, of New York City, filed suit against Nike Inc. on Thursday in federal court in Portland, Oregon. He’s seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Rentmeester shot the photo for Life magazine, and Nike later paid him $150 for temporary use of two transparencies.

According to the complaint, Nike produced a nearly identical photograph of Jordan and reproduced it on billboards, and when Rentmeester complained, the Oregon company paid him $15,000 to use the image for two years.

The complaint says Nike has continued to reproduce the photo and used it to create the “Jumpman” logo.

Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.