Nike File Lawsuit Against Former Employee-Turned-Sneaker Customiser

Following recent reports of Nike suing Customs By Ilene, Inc. (AKA Drip Creationz), the Swoosh is now going after another sneaker customiser, an individual who was previously employed by the brand.

News again comes via The Fashion Law, who report Nike have filed an official complaint in a federal court in Oregon against Jeffrey Waskowiak, a former Nike footwear developer, who now runs a company called KickRich LLC. The sneaker in question is the custom Air Jordan 1 Mid ‘Amazon’, a creation Nike believes creates a false affiliation with the e-commerce giant.

The legal action states that KickRich LLC is selling ‘custom’ sneakers that ‘combine purportedly genuine Nike shoe soles with uppers fabricated entirely by the defendants.’ Other notable claims from Nike include the statement that the sneakers sell for ‘hundreds or up to several thousand dollars each’, and feature ‘reproductions of Nike’s famous Swoosh design and other protected trade dress’.

Nike are seeking to acquire monetary damages, as well as an injunction to stop Waskowiak and KickRich LLC from further infringing on their trademarks or clouding their business.

The plot thickens for the custom sneaker game… We’ll bring you updates as they come to light.

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