Skechers Sues L.L Bean Over Heel Cup Design Patents

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Skechers is coming after another company for allegedly infringing on its design patents.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in the Southern District of New York, Skechers accused L.L. Bean of selling a shoe ( the Freeport Shoe) with two of Skechers’ protected heel cup designs. Skechers stated in the suit that its shoes with the “unique and eye-catching” heel cup designs have sold “millions of pairs.”

“Only after Skechers incurred the substantial risk and monumental expense of developing and promoting its shoes with these Heel Cup designs, and established that they had broad appeal, did L. L. Bean enter the market with its infringing shoe,” the suit read.

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FN has reached out to L.L. Bean for comment. Skechers declined to comment.

Skechers is no stranger to to using legal power to protect its designs. The company previously accused several shoe companies, including Laforst Shoes Inc. and Dockers by Gerli of copying its popular slip-in shoe designs.

In April, the comfort footwear brand filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court in California that alleged that American Exchange Apparel Group (AEG) infringed on Skechers’ patents related to its “Scalloped Opening” shoe designs, a popular design element on Skechers’ flats. And in June, Skechers sued Steve Madden for allegedly copying one of its identifying design marks.

Skechers in April continued its earnings winning streak, posting record sales in the first quarter of 2024. The company reported Q1 net sales of $2.25 billion, up 12.5 percent from $2.0 billion the same period last year. Net earnings were $206.6 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.33 compared with prior year net earnings of $160.4 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.02.

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