PUMA sued by Nike for “forgoing independent innovation”

In the last years, the footwear market has touched a historic high-peek in every sector, from casual and lifestyle to sports. And during this golden age of the sneaker culture, all the biggest brands have battled each other - and they’re still doing it - trying to keep the pace with all the competitors. But according to an HYPEBEAST report, PUMA may have gone a little bit too far with that, having been just sued by Nike for “forgoing independent innovation”.

Basically, the Swoosh is accusing the German brand to have used patent Nike technology without permission in company competition matter. Specifically, PUMA would have ‘copied’ the Flyknit technology, modified in evoKNIT, for which the Swoosh holds 300 utility patents related to the textile. According to the Beaverton-based company, PUMA would have infringed at least four of these patents while making its evoKNIT, also plagiarizing the Air unit and some technologies about sports boots and cleats.

Right now, there are no further details about the kind of response that Nike can expect from the justice, nor any possible answer by PUMA. It could be a massive problem for the German brand, though, that has recently revolutionized its football boots with the introduction of the appreciated FUTURE 18.1 NetFit model.