Nike Files Patent Infringement Injunction Against Adidas Primeknit

When word first hit that adidas would be launching its own knit style sneaker, the adidas Primeknit, there’s no doubt that the design was familiar, echoing to some extent the Nike Flyknit technology that was first rolled out in February of this year. Apparently the sneaker was a little too familiar for the Swoosh bigwigs, with Nike now filing an injunction against adidas in German courts for patent infringement. The filing so far has led to the ceasing of all manufacture and distribution of the sneakers in Germany, a move made to protect the integrity and innovation of the Nike developed Flyknit line. Click through for another look at adidas’ knit sneaker, as well as Nike’s official statement on the matter, and let us know if you think the move was justified.

via Nike INC:

We are pleased the District Court in Nuremberg has granted our application for an interim injunction against adidas for patent infringement by the “adizero primeknit” shoe released in July, 2012. As a result, adidas has been ordered to stop the manufacture and distribution of the shoe in Germany.

Nike has a strong heritage of innovation and leadership in footwear design and development. Our patents are the foundation of that leadership and we protect them vigorously. In this case, the injunction helps protect the innovative Nike Flyknit footwear technology Nike introduced in February, 2012.

We look forward to presenting our case for a permanent injunction to the court.