Reebok Battling Pair of Patent Lawsuits
January 30, 2009 by Alex
Filed under Patent Litigation, Sporting Goods
Lacrosse equipment manufacturer, STX LLC, has filed a lawsuit against Reebok, alleging the Canton, Massachusetts-based company of infringing on patents for lacrosse sticks. STX claims that their 6K ILL lacrosse sticks infringe on a 2004 patent, but Reebok began selling their own version this past fall. According to the Patriot Ledger, STX is asking for an injunction plus other damages.
In another recently filed lawsuit, William Cummings and Jay Levine are claiming patent infringement for a “stabilizer athletic shoe.” In addition to naming Reebok, the suit also names Reebok’s parent Adidas USA, as well as Nike, New Balance, and Under Armour.
Apparently, the patent in question describes an athletic shoe that includes features that increase foot and ankle stability to minimize injuries. The lawsuit is seeking an injunction against the named companies, as well as damages and attorney’s fees.
Edward Haddad, New Balance’s vice president of intellectual property, said the following:
[Our company] respects the intellectual property rights of all individuals and companies. During our development process, we do extensive research to ensure we do not infringe on the patents of others. However, we will go through our due diligence to review Mr. Cummings’ claims and respond to the lawsuit accordingly.
