Nike has come after more brands for allegedly copying its proprietary footwear technology.
In two separate complaints filed Nov. 6, Nike accused New Balance and Skechers of infringing on its patented Flyknit technology in several of their shoe models. In the complaint filed against Skechers in California, Nike said that Skechers’ Slip-ins, Go Walk and Ultra Flex shoe lines infringe on its Flyknit technology. In its suit filed against New Balance in Massachusetts federal court, Nike said New Balance’s Fresh Foam, FuelCell and other sneaker lines infringe on its patents.
A Skechers spokesperson on Thursday said in a statement that it plans to “vigorously defend the patent suit” filed by Nike and “expects to completely vindicate itself and is looking forward to its day in court.”
“We believe that this lawsuit is baseless,” a Skechers spokesperson said in a statement. “Many brands have been making shoes using knit uppers for years. Skechers has been designing shoes using various forms of knit uppers for close to a decade. Skechers respects the intellectual property rights of other companies and invests tremendous resources into developing its own unique styles and footwear technology rather than preying on the rights of others.”
The spokesperson added that Skechers sees this lawsuit as “an example of how Nike uses its vast financial resources to stifle competition rather than compete in the marketplace” and said Nike uses its power in the market to “attempt to monopolize the footwear and sports apparel industries through exclusive arrangements, which, as a practical matter, forecloses viable and meaningful competition for high-profile athletic sponsorships.”
In a statement sent to FN, a New Balance representative said that the company “fully respects” competitors’ intellectual property rights. “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,” the New Balance rep said. “We will vigorously defend ourselves against Nike’s attempts to enforce its patents beyond their lawful scope.”
Nike did not return FN’s request for a comment.
According to Nike’s website, Flyknit technology “uses high-strength fibers to create lightweight uppers with targeted areas of support, stretch and breathability.” The fabric, made from lightweight, woven yarn strands, is meant to fit like a sock but offer durability and support.
“Due to the success of Nike’s Flyknit, many of Nike’s competitors have copied and made unauthorized use of Nike’s Flyknit technologies,” Nike alleged in both complaints.
These lawsuits mark the Swoosh’s latest legal action when it comes to Flyknit. January, Nike sued Lululemon and claimed that some of the athleisure brand’s new sneakers infringe on its patents related to the technology. Nike has also previously sued Puma and Adidas for infringing on Flyknit patents.
In November of 2021, Nike and Skechers settled three lawsuits in the Central District of California in a long-running battle over intellectual property. The dispute began in January 2016, when Nike sued Skechers and claimed that several of its sneakers — including the Skechers’ Burst, Women’s Flex Appeal, Men’s Flex Advantage, Girl’s Skech Appeal, and Boy’s Flex Advantage shoes — contained design elements that infringed on multiple Nike-owned patents.
FAQs
“Skechers believes that this lawsuit is an example of how Nike uses its vast financial resources to stifle competition rather than compete in the marketplace. Skechers also believes that Nike uses its market power in an attempt to monopolize the footwear and sports apparel industries.”
Did Skechers copy Nike? ›
Nike asserted that Skechers took Nike's patents in the VaporMax and AirMax 270 designs and “Skecherfied” them in what amounted to little more than blatant copying. A month later, Nike added a new litigation strategy. Nike sued Skechers for infringement of a utility patent.
Does Nike own Flyknit? ›
Another of Nike's famed utility patent portfolios is its “FlyKnit” technology patent portfolio, which relates to a knitted upper of footwear that Nike first introduced in 2012.
What shoe company did Nike sue? ›
April 29 (Reuters) - Nike (NKE. N) , opens new tab has settled its lawsuit accusing Japanese fashion brand A Bathing Ape, also known as BAPE, of unlawfully copying the footwear giant's famous sneaker designs, according to a filing in New York federal court on Monday.
What is the Flyknit patent? ›
Nike's patented Flyknit technology is based on the use of high-resistance fibers to create lighter shoe uppers that offer specific areas of support, elasticity, and breathability.
Who is Skechers owned by? ›
The ownership structure of Skechers USA (SKX) stock is a mix of institutional, retail and individual investors. Approximately 73.64% of the company's stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 1.81% is owned by Insiders and 24.55% is owned by Public Companies and Individual Investors.
Is Skechers a competitor of Nike? ›
Sports apparel giant Nike is suing two of its competitors, arguing that New Balance and Skechers are wrongfully using technology that Nike developed for making shoes light-weight and strong.
Why did Nike stop Flyknit? ›
The core of Nike's argument is that its rival brands copied their manufacturing processes, design features and key functionalities into their products. For the record, Nike has over 300 patents associated with Flyknit, and less than 10 are in dispute.
Who is Nike owned by? ›
4 The co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight, and his son Travis Knight, along with the holding companies and trusts they control, own more than 97% of outstanding Class A shares. 5 This allows the Knight family to exercise effective control of Nike even though it is a publicly traded business.
What does Flyknit mean? ›
What is Nike Flyknit. 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.
Choosing between Skechers and Nike ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Skechers shines in comfort and affordability, while Nike is synonymous with high-performance athletic footwear. Consider your priorities, whether it's style, comfort, or athletic performance, and make your choice accordingly.
What has Nike been accused of? ›
What is the main reason Nike is considered unethical? Nike has been criticized for using sweatshops in Asia as a source of labor. The company was accused of abusing its employees. In addition, some of the factories reportedly imposed conditions that severely affected their workers' restroom and water usage.
Is Converse owned by Nike? ›
Since 2003, we have been part of Nike, Inc. Our shoes have gained added support, stability, and technology—and our workforce has too. Joining Converse today offers you global reach, personal impact and all the benefits of being owned by Nike, while working within a nimble and independent environment.
Are Nike Flyknit good? ›
It was truly innovative creating a one-piece breathable upper, engineered for precision fit and a second-skin feel for runners. From blistering 5Ks to marathons, or simply for daily jogs or lifestyle use, you can't go wrong with a pair of Nike Flyknit running shoes.
Do you wear socks with Nike Free Flyknit? ›
Though you can wear socks with the Nike Free Flyknit, the intent is that you don't. The upper has been engineered to conform to your foot and feel like a sock.
Who made Nike Flyknit? ›
Arguably the most impactful of these sneakers is the Nike Lunar Flyknit HTM White/ Black/ Volt. Hiroshi Fujiwara, Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Parker all collaborated to design the shoe - Hence HTM. The mark made on the shoe by these three sneaker legends resulted in them being highly sought after.
Is Skechers better than Nike? ›
Choosing between Skechers and Nike ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Skechers shines in comfort and affordability, while Nike is synonymous with high-performance athletic footwear. Consider your priorities, whether it's style, comfort, or athletic performance, and make your choice accordingly.
Do Skechers fit the same as Nike? ›
Shoe sizes in Skechers vs.
However, there can be 0.5 to 1 US size discrepancies with Nike and Adidas, as their sizing schemes differ.
What brand is Skechers from? ›
Skechers USA, Inc. is an American multinational footwear and apparel company. Headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, it was founded in 1992 and is the third largest footwear brand in the United States. Skechers USA, Inc.
Who was the original manufacturer of Skechers? ›
Founded in 1992, Skechers was originally intended to distribute Dr Martens shoes. The founder, Robert Greenberg, who was also behind the brand LA Gear, soon changed direction and started to design and manufacture his own brand of products. The initial offering was a range of utility boots and skate shoes.
