Skechers, the international shoe brand based in California, has sued Steve Madden Limited for infringing on its patented ‘Go Walk’ product line.
The company filed a lawsuit at the US District Court for the Central District of California, and is seeking damages from the rival shoemaker.
Skechers has argued that Madden’s ‘Setta’ shoe, with its woven elastic upper and moulded rubber base, infringes on several patents it owns.
This latest dispute has been preceded by a number of other legal battles between the two shoe brands.
In 2011, Skechers sued Steve Madden for having infringed on its ‘Twinkle Toes’ line, but in that case the companies opted to settle out of court.
Regarding the latest lawsuit, Skechers’s chief operating officer – David Weinberg – released a statement that said: “The innovative design of the Skechers Go series and other such styles have significantly contributed to the company’s recent successes.
“The fame and popularity of various styles of shoes both within and beyond the Skechers Go series is evident in the fact that millions of pairs of Skechers Go series shoes have been sold since their introduction on the market.
“While we prefer to compete in the marketplace, Steven Madden is selling its infringing footwear to Skechers’ wholesale customers and in other sales channels where the Skechers products are sold, and we believe this is causing us enormous damage.”
“We plan on taking similar action against any company that develops any products that infringe on the patents of the Skechers Go Walk or any of our other popular product lines, and any retailer that sells the Steven by Steve Madden Setta style.”
Any UK retailers that sell the specific style of Steve Madden shoe affected by the latest lawsuit are being advised to contact their suppliers.