Nike Targets Lululemon in Latest Infringement Lawsuit
Nike Targets Lululemon in Latest Infringement Lawsuit
January 31, 2023
Charlie Tyas
Images: Nike/ US District Court
Nike has been on the legal warpath recently; over the space of a week they’ve filed infringement cases against BAPE, specifically going after numerous BAPESta models, and are now turning their attention to Lululemon, an international sportswear company who are primarily known for producing quality exercise apparel and have since broadened their horizons into the footwear sector, coming under legal scrutiny from Nike in the process.
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Opposed to current and past lawsuits, such as the ones against Warren Lotas and John Geiger, Nike isn’t going after another Air Force 1 knockoff, instead they are seeking damages for the alleged infringement of their patented Flyknit material, which was introduced in 2012 as a textile that Nike could produce with reduced waste, whilst improving the performance of their own sportswear designs.
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The initial complaint, filed on Monday through Manhattan Federal Court, focuses on four of Lululemon’s footwear designs.
The Blissfeel, Chargefeel Low, Chargefeel Mid and Strongfeel silhouettes have come under Nike’s legal microscope due to their supposed infringement on Flyknit technology, where Nike claims the manufacturing process and structural elements to Lululemon’s designs have been copied and as such, Nike is seeking an undisclosed sum in damages, also pursuing a further injunction which would prevent Lululemon from any future infringements.
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A spokesperson for Lululemon stated that “Nike’s claims are unjustified, and we look forward to proving our case in court.”