Lululemon Is Next On Nike’s Lawsuit List as the Swoosh Protects Its Patents

Things are heating up in the world of sneaker law. Having recently announced that it would be suing BAPE for copying some of its most iconic silhouettes, the Swoosh is now coming after Lululemon, alleging that the gymwear brand has copied their designs and Flyknit technology.

In the new lawsuit, Nike cites Lululemon’s Blissfeel, Strongfeel and Chargefeel silhouettes as infringing on the Swoosh’s tech, as each is constructed from a stretchy, flat-knitted material similar to Nike’s Flyknit fabric. The idea behind Flyknit is that it's designed to expand as you move - a feature that the Lululemon styles also boast. Here, Nike claims that the material and method behind the Lululemon pairs are too similar to Nike’s own, and the Swoosh is therefore seeking an undisclosed sum in damages as well as a permanent injunction to prevent further infringement.

This isn’t the first time Nike has taken Lululemon to court either - just last year Nike called out the brand for copying some of its home gym technology. It’s also not the first time it’s sought to protect Flyknit, as the likes of adidas and PUMA have also come under fire over the years. Lululemon, however believes the claims gainst its footwear are unjustified, stating that they “look forward to proving their case in court.”

Right now, we’re yet to see how the case will pan out, but one thing’s for sure: the Swoosh is getting serious about protecting its products.

In other Nike news, the brand has officially unveiled its Tiffany collaboration.