A California shoe designer filed suit against Nike Inc. alleging copyright violation.
Orange County, Calif., resident Telzy Dennis filed a lawsuit Jan. 16 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas, charging Nike Inc., headquartered in Oregon, with imitating a shoe design he created 25 years ago.
According to the complaint, Nike infringed on Dennis' copyright by publishing and placing on the market a shoe copied from the plaintiff’s own in approximately 2000. Nike obtained patents, collectively titled the “Shox patents” and continues to sell shoes bearing the design, the suit states.
Nike is charged with copyright infringement, unfair trade practices and unfair competition.
Dennis seeks: a declaratory judgment against Nike’s patents and reinstatement of patent ownership to himself; actual damages of $100 million; lost profits and statutory damages, including additional compensation for willful infringement; attorney fees; and costs. He is represented by attorney Zachary Hiller of Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number: 2:15-CV-00026
Shoe designer accuses Nike of copyright infringement
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