The case marks New Balance’s latest defense of the N mark, following prior actions against Michael Kors and unauthorized use in China.
New Balance has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Decathlon, escalating a monthslong dispute over the logo used on the French retailer’s Kiprun running shoe line.
The complaint, filed September 15 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that Kiprun’s logo is confusingly similar to New Balance’s “N” mark, a design element it has used on footwear since the mid-1970s. New Balance says Decathlon applies two versions of the mark: one it argues resembles a “K,” the other a mirror image it calls “unmistakably an N.” According to the filing, Decathlon has denied infringement, maintaining the design is a stylized K.
New Balance said it first raised the issue with Decathlon in January and followed up multiple times before filing suit. The case covers eight Kiprun models, including the Kipstorm Elite and Kipstorm Lab, sold in the U.S. since April through Decathlon’s website and specialty retailers such as Running Warehouse and Super Runners Shop. New Balance is seeking a product recall, destruction of infringing inventory, and unspecified damages, with a trial by jury requested.
The filing extends a pattern of enforcement around the N mark. New Balance settled a similar suit against Michael Kors in 2021 and was awarded $1.5 million by a Chinese court in 2017 over unauthorized use of the design by domestic manufacturers. A 2019 Delaware ruling also found in the brand’s favor against footwear company New Bunren.
Decathlon has not issued a public response.
Access the court dockets here
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