Nike has accused American shoemaker Dominic Ciambrone, often known as The Shoe Surgeon, of violating trademarks and copying his designs. This was revealed by Instagram account Sneaker Legal, citing a legal document from a US court issued on July 15, 2024.
Ciambrone, the creator and CEO of The Shoe Surgeon, is not new to the fashion world. He creates personalized footwear for celebrities like Justin Bieber. He previously teamed up with Gucci to design the limited-edition Gucci Basket sneakers. He also routinely conducts sneaker personalization seminars in America, where anyone may learn how to design their own sneakers. Nike, the sportswear behemoth, finds an issue with these seminars.
According to a court document, Nike frequently asked The Shoe Surgeon not to utilize Nike sneakers in workshops or during sales. Ciambrone did not cooperate with the sportswear behemoth. As a result, Nike has filed a $60 million (€55.04 million) lawsuit against The Shoe Surgeon to compensate for the purported damages.
Nike is frequently the subject of lawsuits. Last year, the company sued New Balance and Skechers. The two shoe producers have been accused of infringing on patented technology.
Nike sued sportswear manufacturers Adidas and Puma on similar claims, and both companies eventually settled. Nike filed a lawsuit against Canadian sportswear manufacturer Lululemon in early 2023 as well. The case is still underway.
This story was originally published on FashionUnited.NL, then translated and adjusted into English.
