Skechers has issued a response to the patent suit filed against it by Nike in California federal court on Nov. 6, 2023, saying it will “vigorously defend” itself.
Nike is suing Skechers for allegedly violating its Flyknit patents. Flyknit is a lightweight yarn woven into a one-piece shoe upper.
A Skechers spokesperson stated: “We believe that this lawsuit is baseless. 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.”
The statement continues: “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. 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 through exclusive arrangements, which, as a practical matter, forecloses viable and meaningful competition for high-profile athletic sponsorships. Skechers expects to completely vindicate itself and is looking forward to its day in court.”
Nike has previously filed corresponding cases over the Flyknit patents against Adidas and Puma, which have since been settled, while a lawsuit against Lululemon is still ongoing. Also in November, a lawsuit against New Balance was filed with the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts and accuses New Balance of infringing Nike’s patent rights with Fresh Foam, FuelCell and other footwear models.
