5 Years, 5 Defendants! What Did American Sports Brand Cage Experience?

SKECHERS (Cage) is a sports leisure brand from the United States. Its name comes from slang in southern California. It means "sitting young people". It represents young people pursuing fashion and personality. In recent years, brand has achieved good results in China through its unique positioning and pricing strategy. But the patent dispute between Skech and Nike, which is well-known brand, has not yet been settled, and the defendant has been taken to court in China for alleged patent infringement. What's going on? Let's get to know.

　 Infringed patent infringement

Recently, Taiwan's manufacturing enterprise "crown red Polytron Technologies Inc" sued the four brands of Cage brand in China, such as Fang Si Cage Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou city Cage Commercial Co., Ltd., and so on, and infringed their invention patents.

According to Xiao Zhi, the infringing patent is "jacquard structure with a light-emitting effect of hierarchy and its making method" (Patent No.: ZL200610086745.X).

If you do not understand what this technology is, look at the patent drawings should be able to instantly understand.

It is worth noting that after being prosecuted, Cage made a request for invalidation to the State Intellectual Property Office of China. This has to suspend the case because it must be based on the findings of the request for invalidation of the State Intellectual Property Office.

There are two views on this matter:

One is the porcelain of the crown red Polytron Technologies Inc, and Cage is just protecting his rights.

The other is that Cage's patent invalidation request is a strategy to delay litigation, with the purpose of lengthening the trial time and giving more time to layout.

First of all, let's take a look at the "touch porcelain theory". It is indeed possible. After all, the main business of Guan De Hong technology is not related to Cage.

But if it's a delaying tactic, there is some truth in it. But in the end, what is right and what is wrong?

　　 Repeatedly accused of plagiarism

The plagiarism of Skech (SKECHERS) seems to be far from stopping.

In October 29, 2019, Nike took Skech to court. This is the fourth time for the two sides to face the court. Nike accused Cage of infringing her Air air cushion technology and related footwear mitigation technology patents, mainly reflected in Cage's Skech-Air Jumpin 'Dots and Mega products line.

Nike believes that Cage's Skech-Air midsole design features are very similar to their own products, such as the transparent structure of the sole structure.

Nike accused Cage of his behavior as a "copycat behavior" and "intentionally", asking for compensation for these alleged infringement designs and issuing any permanent infringement on any patent infringement.

One sentence may be: Cage's cottage is plain and clear.

At present, the lawsuit is still pending.

　 Memorabilia of Skech's complaint

Let us turn to the chronicle of Cage's events in recent years, and we will find that patent litigation such as this, Cage's estimate is no longer strange.

In 2014, CONVERSE said that its proprietary design patent was infringed and Skech was taken to court.

In 2015, Adidas sued Cage, saying that a sneaker of Cage was suspected of copying his classic white shoes.

In 2016, Nike filed a lawsuit against Cage, saying that the design of the new Burst and other products introduced by Cage was very similar to the appearance design of Nike's Flyknit series shoes.

In 2016, Adidas sued Cage, a Mega Blade for children's shoes, which infringed on two US patents related to blade type retarding structure.

In 2019, Nike filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Skech, involving 12 designs patents.

So when you look at the size of these companies, you should know what Cage has been through in recent years. Behind the intensive patent litigation, there are many problems in Cage's product innovation and design.

At the same time, more importantly, Skech's amazing business growth rate, Skech's three quarterly earnings report in 2019 showed that sales in the first 9 months of 2019 were $3 billion 889 million. Although it is far from competing with tens of billions of dollars in Nike and Adidas, it has become a competitive competitor.

Nowadays, in the Chinese market, young people nowadays are becoming more and more difficult to accept, and even sniff at the plagiarism. They want to say that enterprises must strengthen their independent design and innovation to enhance their brand preference.