Nike Is Suing BAPE for Copying Its Sneaker Designs
Finally.
Nike is finally taking action, filing a lawsuit against A Bathing Ape, or BAPE, for copying some of its most recognizable sneaker designs.
The footwear giant noted in court documents that BAPE is a “copyist whose infringements have recently grown to become a significant danger to Nike’s rights” and that the Japanese label’s “current footwear business revolves around copying Nike’s iconic designs.” Sneaker models mentioned in the papers, in particular, include the BAPE STA for its similiarities to the Air Force 1 Low; the BAPE STA Mid for the Air Force 1 Mid; the SK8 STA for the Dunk Low; the COURT STA High for the Air Jordan 1 High; and COURT STA for the Air Jordan 1 Low.
The document further states that BAPE first launched its copied footwear design in 2005 in the U.S. and has continued to release these trademark-infringing sneakers for 15 years. “BAPE’s copying is and always has been unacceptable to Nike, and because BAPE’s infringements have recently grown to become a significant danger to Nike’s rights, Nike must act now,” the company notes. The lawsuit also says that the designs are causing confusion to consumers, as some of the BAPE shoes are commonly referred to as Air Force 1s or Dunks among secondary market sellers.
While neither brand has commented on the lawsuit, Nike does state in the papers that BAPE “refused” when the Swoosh notified the Japanese label of its infringements and “asked it to stop.”
Wow… Nike just sued Bape 👀 Filed 1/25/2023 #nike #bape #lawsuit #TM #AF1 #AJ1 pic.twitter.com/44BW5twr1M
— Sneaker & Streetwear Legal Services℠ (@SneakerLegal) January 26, 2023
