US jury says Lululemon infringed Nike shoe patent

By Blake Brittain

March 10 - A jury in New York federal court awarded Nike NKE.N $355,450 on Friday after finding that Lululemon's LULU.O athletic shoes violated the sneaker giant's patent rights, according to a verdict sheet made public on Monday.

The jury agreed with Nike that Lululemon's Chargefeel, Strongfeel and Blissfeel running and training shoes infringed a Nike patent covering innovations in sneaker structures. Jurors rejected similar claims related to a second Nike patent.

Nike had requested at least 5% of Lululemon's revenues from the shoes in damages, according to a court filing.

A Lululemon spokesperson called the infringement damages "nominal" and said the company was "very pleased" with the noninfringement verdict on the second patent. The spokesperson said Lululemon intends to appeal the infringement ruling, adding it would not affect the company's products.

Spokespeople and attorneys for Nike did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the verdict.

Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike sued Lululemon in 2023 over the patents. Lululemon denied the allegations and argued that the patents were invalid.

Nike separately sued Lululemon in New York in 2022, alleging that Lululemon's Mirror Home Gym infringed Nike patents related to technology that allows users to target specific levels of exertion, compete with other users and record their performance.

That case is still ongoing.

The shoe patent case is Nike Inc v. Lululemon USA Inc, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 1:23-cv-00771.

For Nike: Michael Harris, Chris Renk, Aaron Bowling and Amy Dewitt of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer

For Lululemon: Ali Razai, Jason White and Brandon Smith of Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Read more:

Nike sues Lululemon, says footwear infringes patents