This week, New Balance scored a major legal victory for its PF Flyers brand, which the company acquired back in 2001.
New Balance, along with over 30 other labels including Tory Burch, H&M, Walmart, and Sketchers, was sued by Converse in the fall of 2014 for trademark infringement against their Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers. Interestingly, the Chucks’ design dates back to the 1940s, but the trademark that entitled Converse to exclusive use of a toe cap, toe bumper, and midsole stripe, was only awarded in 2013.
In response, New Balance countersued, and won, with the International Trade Commission declaring that Converse’s Chuck Taylor trademarks were invalid, as numerous parties, including PF Flyers, have utilized similar designs for decades.
While the ruling was welcomed in a statement from New Balance’s Executive Vice President, Paul Gauron, Converse spokeswoman Christine Su expressed the company’s disapproval saying, “We do not agree with all of the [ITC] findings, [and] feel confident our rights will be vindicated on appeal.”
You can read more about the case over at The Fashion Law. What do you guys think? Was Converse just being greedy, or did their suit(s) have merit?
