Converse Sues 31 Knock-Off Competitors To Protect Its Chuck Taylor All-Stars

Shoemaker Converse said Tuesday, Oct. 14, that it has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against 31 retailers and manufacturers, including Walmart, Kmart, Skechers and H&M, accusing them of ripping off the design of its sneakers, according to a press release. Converse says it's fed up with rival shoe companies selling what the Nike-owned company calls clear knock-offs of its Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers. Converse also filed a separate complaint with the International Trade Commission.

The New York Times reported that Converse is suing over alleged infringement of multiple trademarks for the shoes, including the rubber cover on top of the shoes' toe and the "diamond pattern" on their soles. Chuck Taylors, made of canvas, are among the most recognizable shoes around. The high-top versions are perhaps the best known, but they come in low-top versions as well. Converse isn't claiming any infringement of the shoe's star logo in the lawsuits.

"Our decision to bring these lawsuits is grounded in the basic principle of fairness, our well-established right and responsibility to protect Converse's intellectual property, and our commitment to prevent consumer confusion in the marketplace," Converse CEO Jim Calhoun said in a statement. "For generations, the Chuck Taylor, universally known as the 'Chuck,' has captured the hearts and minds of millions of consumers, selling over a billion pairs globally during the past century. We welcome fair competition, but we do not believe companies have a right to copy the Chuck's trademarked look."

According to Fortune, "knock-off Chucks" have really picked up since 2008, with the company claiming it has served more than 180 cease-and-desist letters related to its Chuck trademarks in the past six years. The company says the lawsuits filed Tuesday "are a necessary step toward bringing a stop to this infringing activity."

Walmart's Faded Glory Womens Canvas Lace shoe sells for $12.87, while H&M's version of the Converse All-Star, ambiguously named "sneakers," sells for $24.95 and comes in three different colors.

Walmart and Kmart did not immediately respond to requests for comment. H&M declined to comment and Jennifer Clay, a Skechers spokeswoman, declined to comment on pending litigation.