Kanye West, Evel Knievel settlement announced in trademark suit days before daredevil's death

Jet, Dec 17, 2007

Just days after it was announced that motorcyle icon Evel Knievel and Kanye West settled a trademark lawsuit over a West music video, the 69-year-old iconic daredevil died.

Knievel and West had met at his Clearwater, FL, condo recently. They settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West video, Touch the Sky.

Knievel sued West and his record company last year. He took issue with a 2006 music video for the song in which the rapper takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon.

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Knievel failed in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in 1974.

West's attorneys argued the video amounted to satire, covered under the First Amendment.

"We settled the lawsuit amicably," Knievel said. "I was very satisfied and so was he."

The two had agreed to mediation in July.

In the lawsuit, Knievel claimed the "vulgar and offensive" images depicted in the video damaged his reputation. And he accused the 29-year-old rapper of using the Knievel image to "promote his filth to the world."

Meeting West changed his mind, Knievel said.

"I thought he was a wonderful guy and quite a gentleman," he said.

Knievel had also expressed concern for West, who is mourning the death of his mother, Donda, last month.

"I know he's had some tough times the past few weeks, and I hope things work out," Knievel said.