Skechers USA, Inc. reported it had obtained a European Union-wide preliminary injunction against Dockers by Gerli for selling a shoe style that infringes on the company’s Hands Free Slip-ins design.
Skechers sued Dockers for design infringement in the Dusseldorf Regional Court in Dusseldorf, Germany. In an October 5, 2023 opinion, the German court found that the Dockers shoe infringed on one of Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins’ heel pillow designs and issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Dockers from continuing to offer its shoe for sale in the European Union.
Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers, said: “This lawsuit is one of the many enforcement measures that Skechers is taking against third-parties worldwide to protect its intellectual property rights in Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins designs and technologies.
While the ruling can be appealed, we are very pleased that the German court, in the first instance, acknowledged Skechers’ rights and immediately stopped the sale of the offending shoe style throughout the European Union.
“Skechers invests tremendous resources into product development to introduce fresh, unique and exciting footwear to its customers year in and year out. While Skechers always prefers to compete in the marketplace rather than the courtroom, the company has no choice but to seek legal recourse when competitors infringe on our intellectual property rights. Skechers will continue to aggressively police and enforce its proprietary rights in Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins,” Greenberg concluded
Photo courtesy Skechers
