Crocs, Inc. has received four patents covering various aspects of its footwear. The patents, which cover utility aspects applicable to a number of its footwear models and design elements of its Beach(TM), Cayman, Nile(TM) and Highland(TM) models, were recently issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Crocs's U.S. Patent No. 6,993,858 B2 issued on February 7, 2006, and U.S. Patent Nos. D517,788, D517,789 and D517,790 issued on March 28, 2006. Crocs has also filed additional design patents applications for a number of its other footwear models.
The Company also announced that it has filed complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. Federal District Court against 11 companies that manufacture, import or distribute products that Crocs believes infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 6,993,858 and D517,789, as well as Crocs's distinctive trade dress . Crocs's ITC complaint seeks a permanent exclusion order to prohibit all future importation of infringing goods, as well as cease and desist orders to prohibit the sale of infringing goods already present in the United States. The U.S. District Court complaint, which was filed in Denver, Colorado, seeks a permanent injunction against infringement as well as monetary damages.
Ron Snyder, CEO of Crocs, stated “We are very pleased to have the unique qualities of our footwear recognized by the issuance of these patents. We take great pride in the design and construction of our products and receipt of these patents demonstrates the level of innovation we have applied to our footwear. We also take very seriously our responsibility to protect this intellectual property. Although consumers have clearly demonstrated their desire for the genuine Crocs brand, it is incumbent upon us to fully protect our intellectual property and we will do so in every appropriate instance where we believe our intellectual property is being infringed.”
In addition to the four patents announced today (and other pending U.S. applications), Crocs has either received or applied for patent protection covering a variety of its models in other regions of the world, including the European Union, Asia, South America, Australia and Canada.
