Nike and Skechers Settle Three Patent Suits

Nike Inc. and Skechers USA Inc. have reached a deal to end three lawsuits in the Central District of California in their long-running battle over intellectual property. According to filings on Friday, the two companies attended a mediation before Judge James Holderman on Nov. 16 where the parties agreed to settlement terms. Once the agreement is finalized, the parties will file to dismiss the suits. This agreement marks an end to some years-long court battles between the two shoe brands over claims of trademark infringement on the part of Skechers. The dispute began in January 2016, when Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike sued Manhattan, California-based Skechers, claiming that several of its sneakers — including the Skechers’ Burst, Women’s Flex Appeal, Men’s Flex Advantage, Girl’s Skech Appeal, and Boy’s Flex Advantage shoes — contained design elements that infringed on multiple Nike-owned patents. Skechers responded that year by petitioning the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board to review the patentability of several Nike designs, arguing that all eight patents Nike sought to protect in its case were invalid. In its decisions throughout 2016, PTAB denied all of Skechers’ requests to review the patentability (or inter partes review) of those eight patents. In September 2019, Nike filed another lawsuit

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