Skechers Sues Steve Madden For ‘Go Walk’ Patent Infringement

The suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as injunctive relief for infringing on multiple SKECHERS’ patents.

The Luxonomist. 13/07/2015
The Steve Madden Setta shoe style 1
The Steve Madden Setta shoe style.

California-based Skechers USA Inc. said it is suing Steve Madden Ltd. for infringing on its patented Skechers Go Walk line. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, is seeking damages. According to the lawsuit obtained by Footwear News, Skechers argues that Madden’s Setta style, which has a woven elastic upper and molded rubber bottom, directly infringes on seven patents owned by Skechers that are used in its Go Walk collection.

Skechers states in the suit: “The innovative design of the Skechers Go series and other such styles have significantly contributed to the company’s recent successes …. The fame and popularity of various styles of shoes both within and beyond the Skechers Go series is evident in the fact that millions of pairs of Skechers Go series shoes have been sold since their introduction on the market.”

The Steve Madden Setta shoe style 2
The Steve Madden Setta shoe style.

“While we prefer to compete in the marketplace, Steven Madden is selling its infringing footwear to Skechers’ wholesale customers and in other sales channels where the Skechers products are sold, and we believe this is causing us enormous damage,” said David Weinberg, COO of Skechers, in a release. “We plan on taking similar action against any company that develops any products that infringe on the patents of the Skechers Go Walk or any of our other popular product lines, and any retailer that sells the Steven by Steve Madden Setta style.”

The Steve Madden Setta shoe style 3
One of the Skechers’ Go Walk patents (top) and the Steve Madden Setta shoe style. (bottom).

A two-billion-dollar global leader in the high performance and lifestyle footwear industry, Skechers USA, Inc. designs, develops and markets more than 3,000 styles for men, women and children. Skechers’ success stems from its employees, high-quality, varied product offering, diversified domestic and international distribution channels, and targeted multi-channel marketing.

The Steve Madden Setta shoe style 4
The Steve Madden Setta (L) and Steve Madden Setta style (R)

The company offers two distinct footwear categories: a lifestyle division which includes Skechers Memory Foam and the charity line BOBS from Skechers, and Skechers Performance which includes Skechers GOrun and Skechers GOwalk footwear. Through licensing agreements, the company also offers branded apparel, bags, eyewear, toys, and more.

By Margaret Sutherlin

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