The court has prohibited The Shoe Surgeon, Dominic Ciambrone, from using Nike branding that could mislead consumers.
After a year of litigation over trademark infringement and misleading customization of Nike shoes, Nike Inc. and The Shoe Surgeon, a sneaker customization brand based in downtown Los Angeles, have settled.
The case, which began in 2024, centered on custom designer Dominic Ciambrone’s practice of deconstructing Nike shoes and rebuilding them as luxury customizations.
Nike claimed that Ciambrone was attempting to build a multifaceted retail empire using Nike’s trademark rights by creating and selling counterfeit Nike shoes, as well as classes that would teach consumers how to make them.
The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. Nike had initially demanded $60 million in damages.
As part of the settlement, the court prohibited Ciambrone from using Nike branding that could mislead consumers. However, he will be able to customize products under Nike-approved conditions.
