Latest news with #Kizik
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Skechers denies patent infringement in lawsuit over slip-ins
This story was originally published on Fashion Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Fashion Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Skechers plans to 'vigorously defend' itself in a patent infringement lawsuit Kizik Design filed last week, which claimed Skechers' hands-free slip-ins line violates Kizik's patents. In a statement Monday, Skechers said Kizik's allegations were baseless and added that Skechers holds more than 140 patents worldwide for its designs. Skechers has gone to court over its slip-in designs multiple times. It has sued companies including L.L. Bean, Authentic Brands Group and nonslip shoemaker Laforst. However, now Skechers is the one defending its slip-ins patent rights. Dive Insight: In the statement, Skechers President Michael Greenberg questioned the timing of Kizik's lawsuit, which follows the announcement earlier this year that Skechers would be acquired by 3G Capital for about $9.4 billion. Greenberg said Skechers has been advertising and selling slip-ins since December 2021, 'without so much as a letter from Kizik.' He added that Skechers has become a market leader in the hands-free space by investing resources and research into the category. 'We believe that, after all these years of silence, the true motivation for this lawsuit might be found right on the face of Kizik's complaint, where they state that they are looking for a share of the $9.42 billion being paid for Skechers, money Kizik did not earn and does not deserve,' Greenberg said. Kizik's lawsuit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Attorneys for Kizik say Skechers' business model involves knocking off brands, and they claim Skechers built its entire business model out of copying designs. Kizik was founded in 2017 and introduced hands-free shoes, which its lawsuit called an entirely new category at the time. Skechers disputes that claim, with Greenberg saying in his statement the technology had been around for a century. Handsfree Labs, which calls itself 'the intellectual property and innovation engine' behind Kizik, has licensed its hands-free tech to partners including Nike, per the release. 'Despite its vastly greater size and resources, Skechers did not invest in this research, engineering, and design,' the complaint reads. 'Nor did it invent or pioneer the hands-free footwear category. It certainly didn't reach out to HFL to request a license. Instead, Skechers simply incorporated HFL's patented technologies into its own 'Skecherized' versions. But at the heart of Skechers' hands-free shoes are technologies invented and patented by HFL.' Attorneys for Kizik are seeking a jury trial in the lawsuit as well as money from Skechers, including attorney's fees. Kizik has previously sued Drew Shoe over this issue and later settled the claim. Recommended Reading Skechers go-private deal granted antitrust clearance, but faces another hurdle Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Skechers dismisses Kizik's patent allegations as ‘baseless'
Global footwear and apparel company Skechers USA is facing a lawsuit for allegedly infringing on footwear brand Kizik Design's patents. The legal action was initiated on 24 July in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas by HandsFree Labs (HFL), the intellectual property and innovation engine behind Kizik. The lawsuit focuses on Skechers' Hands Free Slip-ins collection, which the company has marketed as a key innovation in the market. According to the filing, Skechers has been accused of infringing upon four utility patents owned by HFL that cover hands-free shoe entry technology, as well as two HFL design patents concerning aesthetic features. In response, Skechers has announced its intent to defend against the patent suit and called the lawsuit 'baseless'. Skechers highlights its own innovation in the space with more than 140 utility and design patents globally, including in the US. Skechers president Michael Greenberg said: 'The timing of this lawsuit is curious, coming on the heels of Skechers announcing a $9.42bn merger with 3G Capital. Kizik asserts that, 'at the heart of Skechers' hands-free shoes' are Kizik's patented technologies, yet Skechers has been advertising and selling its Slip-ins since December 2021 without so much as a letter from Kizik. 'Then, after the merger is announced, Kizik hires a law firm also used by Nike and attacks our whole Slip-ins product line. We believe that, after all these years of silence, the true motivation for this lawsuit might be found right on the face of Kizik's complaint, where they state that they are looking for a share of the $9.42bn being paid for Skechers, money Kizik did not earn and does not deserve.' Skechers said it has a record of defending its intellectual property rights, as evidenced by multiple judgements, injunctions, and settlements worldwide. Last month, a shareholder of Skechers USA launched legal proceedings seeking additional transparency regarding the company's forthcoming acquisition by private equity company 3G Capital. The brand's offerings are globally accessible, with availability in 180 countries and territories in over 5,300 Skechers retail stores. Greenberg added: 'Hands-free footwear has been around for at least a century. It was not created in the 21st century in Utah. We have become the market leader in the hands-free footwear space by innovating - not imitating - this idea into a true hands-free fit with our own technology. "Skechers invests tremendous resources into research and development to introduce its own fresh, unique and exciting footwear to customers year in and year out and will continue to do so, undeterred by transparent litigation efforts to thwart competition. We will aggressively challenge both the validity of the patents and the infringement claims.' "Skechers dismisses Kizik's patent allegations as 'baseless'" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Fashion United
12 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Skechers responds to Kizik's ‘baseless' lawsuit
Footwear giant Skechers USA has said it plans to 'vigorously defend the patent suit' launched against it by HandsFree Lab (HFL), the parent company of Kizik. In a press release, Skechers said HFL's allegations, pertaining to its line of Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins, were 'baseless' and rooted in the 'assertion that Kizik created the hands-free footwear category and is the only company that can legally use that century-old idea'. In the lawsuit, filed with a Texas court, Kizik alleges that Skechers 'knowingly' infringed on four HFL utility patents and two design patents for its slip-in footwear, a line that, according to HFL, was launched without licensing or acknowledging the Kizik brand. The suit goes on to state that a number of related patents pursued by Skechers have been rejected, a claim Skechers calls 'false', with the company underlining that it has 'obtained more than 140 utility and design patents worldwide, including in the US'. In a statement, Skechers' president, Michael Greenberg, expressed suspicion over the timing of the lawsuit, which he notes comes shortly after Skechers announced a 9.42 billion dollars merger with 3G Capital. Despite not receiving 'so much as a letter from Kizik' since launching its Slip-ins line in 2021, Greenberg states that upon the merger's announcement, 'Kizik hires a law firm also used by Nike and attacks our whole Slip-ins product line'. Greenberg continues: 'We believe that, after all these years of silence, the true motivation for this lawsuit might be found right on the face of Kizik's complaint, where they state that they are looking for a share of the 9.42 dollars billion being paid for Skechers, money Kizik did not earn and does not deserve.' According to Greenberg, Skechers has become a 'market leader in the hands-free footwear space' through innovating with technology and investing into research and development. As such, Skechers 'will aggressively challenge both the validity of the patents and the infringement claims', he adds.
Business Wire
a day ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Skechers Responds to Kizik's Patent Lawsuit
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skechers USA, Inc. ('Skechers'), the Comfort Technology Company and leader in hands-free footwear technology, announced today that it will vigorously defend the patent suit filed in Texas federal court against Skechers by Kizik Design, LLC ('Kizik') alleging, in essence, that the entire line of Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins® ('Slip-ins') infringe Kizik's patents. The Company believes that Kizik's allegations are baseless. As owners of a vast portfolio of intellectual property, Skechers respects the rights of others. Kizik's complaint is based on the assertion that Kizik created the hands-free footwear category and is the only company that can legally use that century-old idea. Contrary to Kizik's false assertion that Skechers patents have been rejected, Skechers has developed its own unique Slip-ins technology and has obtained more than 140 utility and design patents worldwide, including in the United States, and has vigilantly enforced its patent rights, resulting in numerous judgements, injunctions and settlements around the world. Michael Greenberg, President of Skechers, stated, 'The timing of this lawsuit is curious, coming on the heels of Skechers announcing a $9.42 billion merger with 3G Capital. Kizik asserts that, 'at the heart of Skechers' hands-free shoes' are Kizik's patented technologies, yet Skechers has been advertising and selling its Slip-ins since December 2021 without so much as a letter from Kizik. Then, after the merger is announced, Kizik hires a law firm also used by Nike and attacks our whole Slip-ins product line. We believe that, after all these years of silence, the true motivation for this lawsuit might be found right on the face of Kizik's complaint, where they state that they are looking for a share of the $9.42 billion being paid for Skechers, money Kizik did not earn and does not deserve.' Mr. Greenberg continued: 'Hands-free footwear has been around for at least a century. It was not created in the 21 st Century in Utah. We have become the market leader in the hands-free footwear space by innovating – not imitating – this idea into a true hands-free fit with our own technology. Skechers invests tremendous resources into research and development to introduce its own fresh, unique and exciting footwear to customers year in and year out and will continue to do so, undeterred by transparent litigation efforts to thwart competition. We will aggressively challenge both the validity of the patents and the infringement claims.' About SKECHERS U.S.A., Inc. Skechers (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company ® based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company's collections are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through and more than 5,300 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500 ® company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, Skechers' future domestic and international growth, financial results and operations including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and international expansion, opening of new stores and additional expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'expect,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'project,' 'will,' 'could,' 'may,' 'might,' or any variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include the disruption of business and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in our supply chain; international economic, political and market conditions including the effects of inflation, tariffs and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations around the world, the challenging consumer retail markets in the United States, and the impact of wars, acts of war and other conflicts around the world; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers; decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in Skechers' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q in 2025. Taking these and other risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance.
National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
Skechers Responds to Kizik's Patent Lawsuit
Article content LOS ANGELES — Skechers USA, Inc. ('Skechers'), the Comfort Technology Company and leader in hands-free footwear technology, announced today that it will vigorously defend the patent suit filed in Texas federal court against Skechers by Kizik Design, LLC ('Kizik') alleging, in essence, that the entire line of Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins® ('Slip-ins') infringe Kizik's patents. The Company believes that Kizik's allegations are baseless. Article content As owners of a vast portfolio of intellectual property, Skechers respects the rights of others. Kizik's complaint is based on the assertion that Kizik created the hands-free footwear category and is the only company that can legally use that century-old idea. Contrary to Kizik's false assertion that Skechers patents have been rejected, Skechers has developed its own unique Slip-ins technology and has obtained more than 140 utility and design patents worldwide, including in the United States, and has vigilantly enforced its patent rights, resulting in numerous judgements, injunctions and settlements around the world. Article content Michael Greenberg, President of Skechers, stated, 'The timing of this lawsuit is curious, coming on the heels of Skechers announcing a $9.42 billion merger with 3G Capital. Kizik asserts that, 'at the heart of Skechers' hands-free shoes' are Kizik's patented technologies, yet Skechers has been advertising and selling its Slip-ins since December 2021 without so much as a letter from Kizik. Then, after the merger is announced, Kizik hires a law firm also used by Nike and attacks our whole Slip-ins product line. We believe that, after all these years of silence, the true motivation for this lawsuit might be found right on the face of Kizik's complaint, where they state that they are looking for a share of the $9.42 billion being paid for Skechers, money Kizik did not earn and does not deserve.' Article content Mr. Greenberg continued: 'Hands-free footwear has been around for at least a century. It was not created in the 21 st Century in Utah. We have become the market leader in the hands-free footwear space by innovating – not imitating – this idea into a true hands-free fit with our own technology. Skechers invests tremendous resources into research and development to introduce its own fresh, unique and exciting footwear to customers year in and year out and will continue to do so, undeterred by transparent litigation efforts to thwart competition. We will aggressively challenge both the validity of the patents and the infringement claims.' Article content About SKECHERS U.S.A., Inc. Article content Skechers (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company ® based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company's collections are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through and more than 5,300 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500 ® company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Article content This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, Skechers' future domestic and international growth, financial results and operations including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and international expansion, opening of new stores and additional expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'expect,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'project,' 'will,' 'could,' 'may,' 'might,' or any variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include the disruption of business and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in our supply chain; international economic, political and market conditions including the effects of inflation, tariffs and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations around the world, the challenging consumer retail markets in the United States, and the impact of wars, acts of war and other conflicts around the world; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers; decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in Skechers' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q in 2025. Taking these and other risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact: Article content Article content Jennifer Clay Article content Article content Article content
