Overview

• On July 24, HandsFree Labs sued Skechers in the Eastern District of Texas, alleging willful infringement of four utility patents and two design patents tied to its hands-free slip-on shoe technologies.
• Skechers contends the lawsuit is groundless, emphasizing its own portfolio of more than 140 global patents covering Slip-ins and its track record of enforcing IP rights.
• President Michael Greenberg has suggested Kizik’s legal action is strategically aimed at securing a portion of Skechers’ pending $9.42 billion go-private transaction with 3G Capital.
• The Slip-ins line represents about one-third of Skechers’ U.S. online offerings and has emerged as a top-performing category driving recent sales growth.
• HandsFree Labs, which holds over 200 issued and pending patents and licenses its hands-free footwear systems to brands including Nike, is seeking a jury trial and restitution for legal expenses.