Legendary American footmaker and Nike's subsidiary Converse is filing trademark infringement lawsuit against 30 companies over its iconic flagship Chuck Taylor sneaker.
The shoe apparel company sued more than 30 companies including Wal-Mart, Fila, and Kmart for copying the style of its Chuck Taylor Converse shoes. The complaint was filed in International Trade Commission and Eastern District of New York Tuesday, stating that the retailers are violating the design trademark of its 'Chuck' designer sneakers.
Converse claims that more than 30 retailers and manufacturers have breached on one or more of Chuck Taylor trademark designs- the cap above the toe and one or two black stripes in the sneaker.
The lawsuit will be heard in the US District New York following the century-old shoe brand's charges complaint. The company is also suing the retailers and manufacturers for monetary damages. The company also added that their goal is to take the counterfeit Chuck Taylors out of the store shelves.
The iconic Converse brand plans to file individual complaint charges against each company, claimed Terri Hines, vice president for Global Communications at Converse.
"For generations, the Chuck Taylor, universally known as the 'Chuck,' has captured the hearts and minds of millions of consumers, selling over a billion pairs globally during the past century, we welcome fair competition, but we do not believe companies have a right to copy the Chuck's trademarked look," Converse CEO, Jim Calhoun stated.
Converse started its American brand name emblems on athletic lines when the company came up with its first sneaker especially made for basketball players in 1917.
The ever popular trademark star, the 'All Star,' and its rubber-toe front evolved on its modern design over a decade later. The sneaker gained its name as 'Chuck Taylor,' after the well known basketball player became the company's spokesman in the early 1920s.
Nike acquired Converse in 2003 and based on its global sales, the legendary shoemaker sold nearly a billion shoes with its midsole trademark.
