In a move that many see as an example of how newly-minted Nike, Inc. CEO Mark Parker plans to protect the company’s core brand, Nike, Inc. last week reported that it had filed a patent infringement suit against adidas-Salomon in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The company explained that the suit was filed in this court because it better understands the complex nature of patent infringement cases.

The complaint charges that several adidas products utilizing adidas' a3 cushioning system, including the new Kevin Garnett signature shoe and its adidas_1 footwear, allegedly infringe upon Nike's patented SHOX cushioning technology. Nike, Inc. said its patent protects technical columnar design features of the Shox system that maximize stability and performance of the shoe.

At press time, adidas Group was still reviewing the implications of the suit. They are expected to provide comment shortly.

Nike said it also served complaints on two other companies infringing on Nike's intellectual property and patents. Nike served the two companies, Air Max Import and Export Inc. and Romeo and Juliette, at the recent WSA show in Las Vegas.