In a new twist to trademark controversies, footwear manufacturer Skechers has instigated legal proceedings against fellow fashion company Steve Madden. In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court, Skechers alleges that Steve Madden’s “Kennie” line of sneakers infringes upon Skechers’ trademark rights to its iconic ‘S’ logo.
Steve Madden’s “Kennie” sneakers bear an ‘S’ design which Skechers asserts could mislead consumers into assuming that the shoes are either Skechers-made or endorsed. Skechers argues that the Steve Madden shoe incorporates a stylized ‘S’ that carries strikingly similar, if not practically identical, proportions to the ‘S’ logos found on Skechers’ own sneakers. The placement of the design on Steve Madden’s shoe mirrors that on Skechers’ offerings.
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No comment has been offered by a Skechers spokesperson citing ongoing litigation, while representatives for Steve Madden have not responded as yet. However, a statement from Steve Madden dismissed any influence by Skechers on the design of their Kennie shoe. The company maintained that its “swirl” design, present on its products since the 1990s, bore no resemblance to the Skechers logo.
This isn’t the first time Skechers has been embroiled in intellectual property disputes. The company has previously launched lawsuits against other shoemakers including Nike, Adidas, and Easy Spirit over similar controversies. Last year, Skechers filed lawsuits against Berkshire Hathaway-owned Brooks Sports for trademark infringement and luxury brand Hermes for design-patent infringement. Both lawsuits were subsequently settled.
Interestingly, this also isn’t Skechers’ first legal entanglement with Steve Madden. In 2015, Skechers sued Steve Madden over alleged infringement of several design patents related to aspects of its sneakers. The dispute was settled the following year.
It remains to be seen how this latest legal challenge unfolds. For now, the case is Skechers U.S.A. Inc v. Steven Madden Ltd, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
