Crocs Files Trademark Infringement Lawsuits Against 21 Companies – Footwear News

Crocs Inc. is stepping up its fight against trademark infringement – and this time it’s ready to bring copycats to justice.

The shoe brand from Broomfield, Colorado, whose clogs grew in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, has filed lawsuits against 21 companies for alleged trademark infringement. Defendants include Walmart Inc., Loeffler Randall Inc., and Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., as well as many lesser-known companies that sell online – or wholesale to retailers like Walmart.

“These actions underscore our determination to take decisive steps to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property,” said Daniel Hart, EVP and Chief Legal and Risk Officer at Crocs, in a statement. “It is important that we protect Crocs’ iconic DNA and we will not tolerate violations of our rights or those who try to take to the streets with the investments we have made in our brand.”

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The lawsuits, which have been filed in several U.S. district courts, follow Crocs’ filing in June with the United States International Trade Commission (USITC), seeking an investigation into the unlawful import and sale of allegedly infringing shoes. Last week USITC voted to continue the investigation.

While this complaint could prevent the offending shoes from entering the country and being sold by various companies, today’s lawsuits seek damages for alleged violations of the three-dimensional design of the recognizable shoes.

However, the suits are just the latest battle in Crocs’ long battle to protect its intellectual property. Named Brand of the Year 2020 by FN, the company won a long-awaited victory in September 2019 when the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office determined that the Classic Crocs clog was valid. The patent had previously been rejected by the USPTO three times after a dispute was filed by a competitor of Crocs, USA Dawgs.

At the time, a company spokesman said his legal efforts are aimed at protecting Crocs’ intellectual property and “enforcing it against those who unfairly endanger the goodwill and reputation of the brand.” And now that the brand name is bolstered by lively collaborations with celebrities like Justin Bieber and Diplo, as well as a marked shift towards comfortable styles in the wake of the pandemic, that goodwill could be stronger than ever.

Here is the full list of defendants named in Crocs’ trademark infringement litigation:

Cape Robbin Inc .; Bijora, Inc., d / b / a Akira; Dr. Leonards Healthcare Corp. d / b / a / Carol Wright; Crocsky; Fujian Huayuan Well Import and Export Trade Co., Ltd .; Fullbeauty Brands Inc. d / b / a Kingsize; Hawkins shoe, sports, military, and Dixie stores; Hobibear Shoes and Clothing Ltd .; Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc .; Ink tee; La Modish Boutique; Legend Footwear, Inc., d / b / a Wild Diva; Loeffler Randall Inc .; Maxhouse Rise Ltd. (Walmart Supplier); PW Shoes, Inc. a / k / a P&W; Royal Deluxe Accessories, LLC; Schuh-Nami, Inc .; Star Bay Group Inc .; Walmart, Inc., Yoki Fashion International LLC; Quanzhou Zheng De Network Corp., d / b / a Amoji; and 718Clearouts.