Nike Sues BAPE For Trademark Infringement

[Dad]

Nike is suing BAPE for copying Jordan 1’s, Jordan 1 Lows, the midsole on AF1s, dunk lows, AF1’s mid, AF lows - DesignNikes lawsuit: Nikes Lawsuit

Nike lawsuit says fashion brand BAPE copied famous sneaker designs

Nike Inc sued Japanese fashion brand A Bathing Ape, also known as BAPE, in New York on Wednesday for allegedly copying some of its most famous shoes.

www.reuters.com

Nike Inc sued Japanese fashion brand A Bathing Ape, also known as BAPE, in New York on Wednesday for allegedly copying some of its most famous shoes.

The shoe giant's Manhattan federal court lawsuit said BAPE's footwear business "revolves around copying Nike's iconic designs," and that some of its shoes are "near verbatim" copies of Nike's Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1, and Dunk sneakers.

Representatives for the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

BAPE, founded by designer Tomoaki Nagao, is owned by Hong Kong-based I.T. Ltd. According to the lawsuit, BAPE began selling products in the United States in the mid-2000s.

Nike said BAPE's U.S. sales of the shoes were "sporadic" until 2021, when it "drastically increased the volume and scope of its infringement."

"BAPE's copying is and always has been unacceptable to Nike, and because BAPE's infringements have recently grown to become a significant danger to Nike's rights, Nike must act now," the lawsuit said.

Nike also said BAPE "refused" to stop the alleged violations when asked.

The lawsuit said BAPE's designs will cause confusion among potential customers. It cited secondary-market sellers who referred to the BAPE shoes as "Air Force 1s" or "Dunks."

Nike asked the court to order BAPE to stop selling the shoes and requested an unspecified amount of money damages.

The case is Nike Inc v. USAPE LLC, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 1:23-cv-00660.

 

[Ol’Otis]

Damn after all these years

 

[StackBundles]

Nike suing everyone. Money must be running low. Bape been having bootleg air forces since forever

 

[...o3]

...was this lawsuit on a backlog from 2005?

 

[Sir Richard Spirit]

Nike suing everyone. Money must be running low. Bape been having bootleg air forces since forever

Money running low? Nike?

Nah. This is part of the plan. First they got the patent. Now they get to sue all these companies. When they done suing the majority of their shoes will be out of foot locker.

There going to get rid of the competition and the distributor. Nike going all in $

 

[Amo Husserl]

 

[BronxFleeZ]

What was the reason they couldn’t sue them in first place?

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

edit: didn’t mean it like that…

 

[Don'tCallMeLuckyB]

What was the reason they couldn’t sue them in first place?

Nike’s patent only lasted for 20 years and the forces dropped in 82. Under japan patent law which also lasts 20 years ( cannot renew ) bape saw a door opening and dropped the bapesta in 2002 avoiding the lawsuit.

Idk what happened now that Nike got the patent renewed or what but they been wanting to get bape out the paint lol

 

[Dad]

Nike’s patent only lasted for 20 years and the forces dropped in 82. Under japan patent law which also lasts 20 years ( cannot renew ) bape saw a door opening and dropped the bapesta in 2002 avoiding the lawsuit.

Idk what happened now that Nike got the patent renewed or what but they been wanting to get bape out the paint lol

The suit covers Jordans & dunks.

 

[Elim Garak]

I've noticed these companies will sit back and wait years. I think it's so the legal fees are worth it lol.

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

Nike’s patent only lasted for 20 years and the forces dropped in 82. Under japan patent law which also lasts 20 years ( cannot renew ) bape saw a door opening and dropped the bapesta in 2002 avoiding the lawsuit.

Idk what happened now that Nike got the patent renewed or what but they been wanting to get bape out the paint lol

they changed the panels on the forces to avoid a lawsuit now nike is suing them for copying the midsole on the forces as well as other models besides the air force. this is new territory

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

Damn after all these years

Waited until them mofos made all the money they could now NIKE coming to collect

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

We supported a brand called bathing ape

this that fake deep bullshyt dudes be doing when they wanna project trauma that don't even exist.

japan has apes that bathe in hot springs. a bathing ape... is a japanese company

like read a book sometime and go the fukk outside

 

[darealvelle]

this that fake deep bullshyt dudes be doing when they wanna project trauma that don't even exist.

japan has apes that bathe in hot springs. a bathing ape... is a japanese company

like read a book sometime and go the fukk outside