BEAVERTON, Ore., Feb. 16 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network — In its continuing
effort to protect its product innovations and investment in research and
development, Nike today filed a legal complaint against Adidas-Salomon in the
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
The complaint identifies several top Adidas products that infringe upon
Nike’s patented SHOX cushioning technology. These infringing products include
shoes using Adidas’ a3 cushioning system, including the new Kevin Garnett
signature shoe and its Adidas_1 footwear.
The Nike patent protects technical columnar design features of the Shox
system that maximize stability and performance of the shoe. Despite Nike’s
patent protection, Adidas has built shoes that use Nike’s technology.
“Nike is widely recognized for its product innovation in footwear and
athletic products and we invest heavily to provide performance products to our
consumers. It is deeply frustrating and inappropriate when companies borrow or
refashion such technologies as their own without making similar investments,”
said Eric Sprunk, Vice President, Global Footwear, Nike, Inc.
As an example of Nike’s commitment to innovation, Sprunk referenced the
Air Max 360, the company’s latest offering in its transformative line of Nike
Air footwear that originally debuted in 1979. Using a patented manufacturing
process called “thermoforming” the Air Max 360 shoe has a foamless mid-sole
that features a superior cushioning system and has already shown promising
future applications for athletic footwear performance. Similarly, Nike’s SHOX
cushioning technology, which debuted in 2000, is protected by 19 or more
separate patents on its unique cushioning system and required 16 years of
development and considerable financial investment to transition it into the
athletic footwear marketplace. “Nike often reinvests its revenues into
research and development of such new products. Understandably, Nike and its
shareholders cannot allow infringement to occur unchallenged,” added Sprunk.
During last week’s World Shoe Association Show in Las Vegas, Nike also
served complaints on two other companies infringing on Nike’s intellectual
property and patents. Those companies, Air Max Import and Export Inc. and
Romeo and Juliette had previously come to Nike’s attention regarding
violations of Nike’s patent rights.
Copies of the full complaints in any of the above matters can be
downloaded from http://www.nikebiz.com.
About NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon is the world’s leading designer,
marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment
and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.
Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets
and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; NIKE Bauer Hockey
Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan, a
leading designer and marketer of luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and
coats; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action
sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and Exeter Brands
Group LLC, which designs and markets athletic footwear and apparel for the
value retail channel.
Web Site: http://www.nikebiz.com
