Lululemon convinces US judge to overturn Nike shoe patent verdict

By Blake Brittain

March 31 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday reversed a jury's verdict that athleticwear maker Lululemon LULU.O infringed a NKE.N patent related to the sneaker giant's manufacturing techniques.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said that Nike's patent at issue in the case was invalid, overturning the jury's $355,450 award against Lululemon.

Spokespeople for the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision.

Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike sued Lululemon for patent infringement in 2023. It said that the Canadian company's Chargefeel, Strongfeel and Blissfeel running and training shoes infringed two Nike patents covering innovations in sneaker structures.

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

A jury determined last year that Lululemon infringed one of the two patents covering a method for knitting the upper parts of sneakers. Subramanian said on Tuesday that the infringed patent was invalid because it would have been obvious to an ordinary person in the field when it was invented.

Nike separately sued Lululemon in New York in 2022, alleging that Lululemon's Mirror Home Gym infringed other Nike patents. 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, Christopher 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

US jury says Lululemon infringed Nike shoe patent