Skechers Successfully Defends Allegations of Infringing Converse Chuck Taylor Trademark

Skechers USA Inc. (NYSE:SKX) has recorded another success in its ongoing legal battles with Nike’s Converse brand.

The chief administrative law judge of the U.S. International Trade Commission recently ruled that Skechers’ Twinkle Toes and Bobs lines did not violate Converse’s Chuck Taylor midsole trademark because “it was not a valid mark at the time that [Skechers] first began using the [trademark].”

The two companies began their legal battles in 2014, when Nike sued Skechers, along with over 25 other fashion firms, for copying certain design elements of its Chuck Taylor All Star shoes. Skechers reportedly released a statement by its President, “These rulings validate Skechers’ investment in its distinctive designs and brand identity – an investment that has helped build Twinkle Toes into a No. 1 shoe line for young girls and build both Twinkle Toes and Bobs into household names synonymous with Skechers – not with Converse or any other brand.”

Author: Matt McDonald