Nike Launches Lawsuit Against Lululemon Alleging Similar Shoe Designs
Last January, Nike filed a complaint against Lululemon, claiming the competitor had infringed on six of its smartphone app and fitness device patents. Now, the sportswear giant is launching another lawsuit, this time alleging similar shoe designs.
According to CNBC, the company is suing for patent infringement involving at least four footwear products, asserting that it has “suffered economic harm and irreparable injury” as a result of its rival’s Chargefeel Mid, Chargefeel Low, Blissfeel, and Strongfeel shoes.
For the unfamiliar, Lululemon only stepped into the footwear territory in March 2022, creating kicks especially with women in mind, following four years of extensive research and over a million scans of women’s feet.
The three patents Nike is claiming infringement on focus on the textile elements found in its Flyknit products, such as the knitted components, webbed areas, and inclusions of tubular structures on the footwear. An additional claim takes issue with the shoe’s performance.
At the moment, Lululemon has yet to admit to any wrongdoing, with a spokesperson calling the recent allegations “unjustified,” and saying that the brand will be looking forward to proving as such in a court of law.
Elsewhere, Nike’s legal team seems to be having a rather busy start to the year, with the company already having sued BAPE for building its brand on derivatives of the firm’s iconic sneakers, and going up against a CBD farm for its ‘Just Hemp It’ tagline.
