Footware Versus Footwear
Lawsuits, Import Bans, and the Future of Running Shoes.
Time is flying. It’s already halfway through June, and this week a lot is going on in the footwear industry that most people aren’t talking about.
The United States Is Finally Standing Up To China
Footwear has always landed at the center of the conversation when it comes to unfair labor laws. Sadly, we’ve seen it for decades. However, there is new hope that the US will stand up for the rights of workers in China. Reuters reported this week that Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co was added to a list of companies barred from further imports for allegedly being involved with Uyghur forced labor. From what I can tell, Skechers seems to be the only company in the US working with Oasis.
Nike Loses To PUMA Over “FOOTWARE”
It’s rare that we actually see the results of lawsuits. Instead, they tend to get drawn out in court and eventually fall off the radar of sneaker-centric media outlets. This week, however, the General Court for the European Union upheld an earlier determination from the Board of Appeal for the European Union Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”), which found that the registration that was granted to Nike back in 2019 for the FOOTWARE word mark is invalid. In short, PUMA came out victorious in saying that the term “footware” is not different enough than “footwear” and both are generally and used interchangeably.
Nike Is Doing What Many Asked Them To Do
On the flip side of the lawsuit game, Nike is going after dozens of counterfeit sellers and manufacturers with trademark infringement filings. Oftentimes the narrative in the sneaker world is that Nike doesn’t do enough to stop fake sneakers. This week, it’s hard to argue that. According to @sneakerlegal, there are 100+ defendants and 50+ websites listed as defendants. Hopefully, this is a quick and easy win for Nike.
The Future Faces Of Running Shoes
If you’re a fan of running shoes and want a sneak peek at the faces that will be front and center of future marketing campaigns, the New Balance Nationals are underway this weekend in Pennsylvania. In related news, Saucony just signed Sam Chelanga.
In My Continuing Efforts To Celebrate Myself…
I was recently asked by the New York Times to share my thoughts on Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Plan To Bring Back Reebok Basketball.
Tell someone you like their kicks this weekend!
-Nick
✌️ + ❤️ + 🌯
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