Skech Wins And CONVERSE'S Patent Infringement Case

In October 17th, the US sports leisure brand Skech (SKECHERS) announced that the group won the three trial of the patent dispute between the US sports giant Nike (Nike) skateboard brand Converse (CONVERSE).

Charles E. Bullock, chief executive judge of the International Trade Commission (hereinafter referred to as ITC), announced that Cage's Twinkle Toes and BOBS series shoes, or the brand's mid foot (Midsole) design of any shoe were not infringed on the patent of CONVERSE shoes. Since Skech started to use this design in 2001 when CONVERSE had not yet registered a patent, the middle end patent of Chuck Taylor shoes had no binding effect on Skech.

In 2014, CONVERSE first filed a lawsuit against Skech for the first time because of the patent infringement of the intermediate design, and the court repeated the case many times. This is the third time the court has declared Cage's victory.

In November 2015, judge Charles E. Bullock held that Skech did not cause any infringement on CONVERSE. He pointed out that Skech produced Twinkle Toes and BOBS series have very obvious brand characteristics, and the results of the questionnaire also show that consumers will not confuse their products with CONVERSE Chuck Taylor.

In June 2016, ITC decided that the CONVERSE Chuck Taylor shoe design patent was invalid, and said that even if the patent was effective, the Cage Twinkle Toes and BOBS series would not infringe on Chuck Taylor shoes. Cage could continue to sell Twinkle Toes and BOBS Series in the United States.

As CONVERSE appealed, ITC again heard the case. After verification analysis, they believed that CONVERSE's midstream patents were effective, but Skech did not constitute any infringement on CONVERSE.

Cage, President of Michael Greenberg, said he was very grateful to judge Bullock for digging up the history of the brand's midsole design and making the right decision. The results of many trials prove that Cage is uniquely designed and the brand image is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

Although the case with CONVERSE came to an end, Skech still faces other accusations of Nike and Adidas's sports giants. Nike thinks that some products of Skech use the Flyknit appearance of group patents, and Adidas thinks that some of Skech's products are designed with Stan Smith shoes.