PORTLAND BJ
Nike alleges in a new lawsuit that Skechers has violated the patents for its VaporMax and Air Max 270 shoes.
Nike has filed another patent infringement lawsuit against Skechers, and this time Nike is taking the added step of saying Skechers' "copying strategy" is driven by CEO Robert Greenberg.
In the new lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Los Angeles, Nike alleges "Skechers' business strategy includes copying its competitors' designs to gain market share."
The lawsuit further alleges a "Skechers corporate witness" in a similar case testified that Greenberg told employees to knock off the designs of competitors.
A Skechers spokeswoman did not immediately return a message. The spokeswoman previously said the company does not comment on active litigation.
The new lawsuit specifically relates to to Nike's VaporMax and Air Max 270 shoes. The lawsuit notes two similar patent lawsuits Nike and its Converse subsidiary filed against Skechers remain ongoing. The Converse lawsuit was filed in 2014. The most recent lawsuit was filed in 2016.
In its legal response to the most recent lawsuit, Skechers broadly denied the allegations.
Nike wants a judge to order Skechers to stop selling the allegedly infringing shoes. Nike also seeks its attorneys fees and any profits Skechers made from selling the shoes.
A Nike spokesman did not immediately return a message.