Rawlings Sports Goods Company, Inc., now a subsidiary of K2 Inc., has filed suit against Nike, Inc. in U.S. District Court in Missouri for patent infringement. The claim, filed on May 27, is based on Nikes alleged infringement of Rawlings patent for a “Basketball Having Nine to Twelve Cover Panels”. Rawlings filed the application for the patent for the product in October 2001 and was granted patent no. 6,752,732 in June 2004. Rawlings claims that Nike began “manufacturing, promoting, and/or selling” a ten-panel basketball under the name GO PRO after Rawlings introduced their own ten-panel ball in 2001 and the subsequent granting of the patent on that product.
Rawlings is requesting that the Court issue a ruling that would prevent Nike from infringing on the patent and is asking that Nike deliver to Rawlings for destruction all product and marketing materials related to the alleged infringing product. They are also requesting that Nike recall all product that has been shipped to-date and deliver it to Rawlings to be destroyed. Additionally, Rawlings is requesting all profits derived from the sale of the ball in question. They are also seeking damage awards and fees.
