Nike Files Lawsuit Against Skechers, New Balance: Here's All You Need To Know About The Case

Footwear giant Nike has filed lawsuits against rivals New Balance and Skechers in the US alleging patent infringement. Nike, which alleges Skechers and New Balance of misusing its patented technology in sneakers, seeks money in damages and permanently blocking of New Balance and Skechers from infringing the patents. Check what’s the issue, what Nike wants, and who says what.

What Is the Issue?

Nike has accused New Balance and Skechers of infringing patents related to Nike’s technology, ‘Flyknit’, for making upper portions of sneakers. It said several New Balance athletic shoes and Skechers sneakers misuse Nike’s patented “Flyknit” technology for running, soccer and basketball shoes.

What is Nike Flyknit?

According to Nike’s website, Flyknit is a fabric 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 company also said, “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 asked the courts for an unspecified amount of money damages and court orders permanently blocking New Balance and Skechers from infringing the patents.

According to Nike’s complaint against New Balance filed in Massachusetts federal court, shoes from New Balance’s Fresh Foam, FuelCell and other lines violate Nike’s patent rights.

In Skechers lawsuit, Nike said shoes, including Skechers’ Ultra Flex and Glide Step brands, infringed on its patents.

What Do Skechers and New Balance Say?

New Balance in a statement said 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 issues as of yet.

Has Nike Previously Also Filed Such Cases?

Nike has previously sued Adidas, Puma and Lululemon for infringing Flyknit patents. Adidas and Puma have settled their lawsuits, while Nike’s case against Lululemon is still ongoing.

(With Inputs From Agencies)