Evel Knievel and Kanye West Agree to Settle Out of Court

In December 2006, famed daredevil Evel Knievel sued rapper Kanye West in a Florida District court for, among other things, trademark infringement and trademark dilution. Knievel claims that West infringed Knievel’s trademarked look in the music video for West's song "Touch the Sky". In the video, West wore a red, white and blue jumpsuit similar to the jumpsuit that Knievel wore during his daredevil jumps. Additionally, West used the handle "Evel Kanyevel", wore a distinctive "EK" belt buckle, and attempted to jump the Grand Canyon on a rocket-powered motorcycle.

According to the complaint, Knievel claims that the "vulgar and offensive" images in West's video damage Knievel's reputation. West's attorneys argued that the video amounted to satire. According to trademark law, parody use of a trademark is allowed if the use mimics that of the original.

On July 10, 2007, West indicated that he and Knievel will use a mediator to resolve the legal dispute outside of court.