Lululemon Lands Review of Nike Flyknit Patent in Sneaker Suits

Lululemon Athletica Inc.‘s American and Canadian divisions convinced an administrative tribunal to review a Nike Inc. patent New Balance Athletics Inc., Sketchers USA Inc., and the activewear company are accused of infringing.

Lululemon demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of success in challenging the validity of Nike’s US Patent No. 8,266,749 covering a method of manufacturing footwear with a knitted textile element, according to a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision issued Aug. 9.

Nike filed lawsuits against all three companies in 2023, accusing dozens of sneaker models of infringing inventions related to its Flyknit technology. Lululemon petitioned for review of the ...