Vans settled a trademark lawsuit against Walmart that accused the retailer of copying the designs of “virtually all” of Vans’ sneakers, including its Old Skool low-top and Sk8-Hi high-top shoes.
Under the settlement agreement filed by counsel for Vans and its owner VF Corp., Walmart, and Walmart supplier ACI International, in California federal court, Walmart denied the allegations but agreed to a court order permanently blocking the company from selling the alleged Vans knockoffs. Terms were not disclosed.
Vans’ lawsuit, first filed in 2021, accused Walmart, through its in-house labels, Time and Tru, Wonder Nation and No Boundaries, of “flood[ing] the market with cheap, low-quality and confusingly similar shoes” that “are blatant knockoff versions of Vans shoes,” reported by The Fashion Law. Walmart’s alleged infringing models sell for $20 less than comparable Vans’ offerings. Vans said the models caused confusion among consumers and infringed on Vans’ trademarks.
The Vans vs. Walmart case was scheduled for trial later this month.
Photo courtesy Walmart (Time and Tru)
