Athletic wear maker Nike has sued rival shoe maker Skechers, saying the company has ripped off its patented FlyKnit athletic shoe making technology.
"Nike’s Flyknit is a game-changing technology," says the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. "Flyknit resulted from
more than a decade of Nike’s research and development, and it has been hailed as 'the most groundbreaking sneaker innovation in over 40 years.'”
The success of the technology has prompted competitors to copy it without authorization, including Skechers, the suit said.
"Nike brings this lawsuit to once again stop Skechers’ infringement of Nike’s intellectual property and protect Nike’s hard-earned innovations in Flyknit
technology," the suit states.
Nike seeks an injunction against Skechers from continuing to use the patented technology, plus royalties for shoes Skechers has already sold while allegedly infringing on the patent.
"Skechers’ activities have caused and will continue to cause Nike irreparable injury for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless this Court
enjoins Skechers’ infringing activities," the lawsuit states.
Nike is represented by attorneys Christopher J. Renk, Michael J. Harris, Bridgette C. Gershoni, Hilda Obeng and Michael Sebba, of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.
Nike v. Skechers USA, Inc., U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2:23-cv-09346-AB-PVC