Evel Knievel and Kanye West Turn to Mediator to Settle Lawsuit

Claiming Kanye West infringed on his trademarked name and likeness legendary daredevil Evel Knievel was prepared to take the 29-year-old rapper to court. The lawsuit, filed by Knievel in December, took exception to the West music video “Touch the Sky” and alleged that it damaged his reputation along with violated his trademarked image.

Now the two opposing sides believe they can come to an understanding without the help of a federal judge. On Tuesday Knievel and West notified the judge that they would use a mediator to settle the lawsuit.

In the video Kanye West takes on the role of “Evel Kanyevel” and is decked out the tradition Knievel jumpsuit that features red, white and blue colors with stars. The stunt in the video conjures up images of an attempt made by Knievel to jump the Snake River Canyon in 1974. The attempt made by Knievel failed miserably just as the staged stunt in Kanye’s video.

While Kanye’s attorneys didn’t deny the similarities of Knievel and “Kanyevel” they did argue that the video amounted to satire and was protected under the First Amendment.

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