Houston Community News >> Nike in China Files Lawsuit Over Alleged Copying of Air Jordan Logo
7/17/2007 SHANGHAI, China (AP)
— Nike is suing two Chinese shoemakers and the local operations of a French
supermarket chain over alleged illegal copying of its Air Jordan logo, local
media reported Tuesday.
Nike Inc., the world’s largest sports apparel company, says it found shoes made
by the companies being sold in outlets operated by the Auchan chain in Shanghai
and the nearby city of Ningbo, the China Daily newspaper said.
It
says the shoes, which sold for about 100 yuan ($13) a pair, bear the logo of
former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan dunking a basketball, the copyright for
which is held by Nike, the report said. Authentic Air Jordan’s sell for many
times that amount.
Nike is suing Auchan’s Shanghai and Ningbo offices and shoemakers, Jinjiang
Kangwei Shoes Co. Ltd and Jinjiang Longzhibu Shoes Co. Ltd., demanding they
cease making and selling the shoes, apologize, and pay 1 million yuan ($131,000)
in damages, the report said.
A second hearing by the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court was held on
Monday with no decision announced.
The report cited lawyers for the defendants as questioning the validity of
Nike’s claims, saying the logo wasn’t well known in China, and disputing the
amount of damages demanded. Spokesmen for the companies could not immediately be
reached.
Nike itself is being sued in the United States by Reebok International Ltd.,
which alleges its rival infringed on a patent covering “collapsible shoe”
technology that allows sneakers to be folded so they can more easily be packed
for travel or shipping.
(Contributed by AP)