Nike Files Lawsuit Against Skechers, New Balance. (Reuters File Photo)
Footwear big Nike has filed lawsuits towards rivals New Balance and Skechers within the US alleging patent infringement
Footwear big Nike has filed lawsuits towards rivals New Balance and Skechers within the US alleging patent infringement. Nike, which alleges Skechers and New Balance of misusing its patented know-how in sneakers, seeks cash in damages and completely blocking of New Balance and Skechers from infringing the patents. Check what’s the difficulty, what Nike needs, and who says what.
What Is the Issue?
Nike has accused New Balance and Skechers of infringing patents associated to Nike’s know-how, ‘Flyknit’, for making higher parts of sneakers. It stated a number of New Balance athletic sneakers and Skechers sneakers misuse Nike’s patented “Flyknit” know-how for working, soccer and basketball sneakers.
What is Nike Flyknit?
According to Nike’s web site, Flyknit is a material engineered by Nike “that fits like a sock, with the support and durability for sport. It is a material made up of strong yet lightweight strands of yarn that have been woven into a one-piece upper, securing an athlete’s foot to the shoe platform.”
The firm additionally stated, “Different types of knit patterns are used within a single Flyknit upper. Certain areas have a tighter weave to give the foot more support, while other areas are designed to be more flexible or breathable. Data from Nike’s 40+ years of studying the foot determines where each pattern is applied.”
What Does Nike Want Now?
Nike has requested the courts for an unspecified sum of money damages and court docket orders completely blocking New Balance and Skechers from infringing the patents.
According to Nike’s criticism towards New Balance filed in Massachusetts federal court docket, sneakers from New Balance’s Fresh Foam, FuelCell and different strains violate Nike’s patent rights.
In Skechers lawsuit, Nike stated sneakers, together with Skechers’ Ultra Flex and Glide Step manufacturers, infringed on its patents.
What Do Skechers and New Balance Say?
New Balance in an announcement stated it “fully respects competitors’ intellectual property rights, but Nike does not own the exclusive right to design and produce footwear by traditional manufacturing methods that have been used in the industry for decades.”
Skechers has not commented on the problems as of but.
Has Nike Previously Also Filed Such Cases?
Nike has beforehand sued Adidas, Puma and Lululemon for infringing Flyknit patents. Adidas and Puma have settled their lawsuits, whereas Nike’s case towards Lululemon continues to be ongoing.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
