Nike’s Converse brand wants to put an end to knockoffs of its shoe designs, and they’re willing to go to great lengths to ensure that happens.
The North Andover, Mass., company is suing 31 companies, including Skechers, Walmart and Kmart among many others, accusing them of trademark infringement on its iconic Chuck Taylor shoe, the New York Times reports. Converse has also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission, looking to stop the copycat shoes from entering the country.
“The goal really is to stop this action,” Jim Calhoun, Converse’s chief executive, said. “I think we’re quite fortunate here to be in the possession of what we would consider to be an American icon.”
According to the Times, Converse is claiming that the 31 retailers have infringed on the trademarked designs of the shoe, including the one or two black stripes on the soles and the diamond pattern on the bottom of the sole.
Calhoun added that they have seen an uptick in the Chuck Taylor replicas in recent years, leading the company to send more than 160 cease-and-desist letters to companies about the issue.
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