Nike Sues Skechers, New Balance Over Patented Flyknit Technology

Nike Inc. filed federal lawsuits Monday against Skechers USA Inc. and New Balance Athletics Inc. alleging the two competitors sell dozens of sneaker models that infringe as many as nine patents for Nike’s Flyknit technology.

The complaint against Skechers, filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, marks at least the fifth time Nike has sued that rival in federal court. It’s the third such case over patents related to Flyknit.

Earlier litigation against Skechers settled in November 2021. Over time, the focus of the Flyknit clashes with Skechers has shifted from patented designs to patented ...