Nike Officially Respond to Warren Lotas Preliminary Injunction Order
After a legal battle, a judge in the United States District Court of the Central District of California has ruled in Nike’s favour, with a preliminary injunction order issued against LA-based designer Warren Lotas. , Lotas was accused of selling ‘illegal fakes’ in the shape of custom based on famous colourways.
In response to the latest developments, a Nike spokesperson has offered an official statement:
‘Nike is pleased with the preliminary injunction order issued. Nike filed this lawsuit to defend and protect its intellectual property and clear up confusion in the marketplace between legitimate customizations and unlawful fakes. By prohibiting the sale of the fake Nike Dunks, yesterday’s order is an important step towards achieving that goal.’
Judge Mark Scarsi has ordered Lotas and ‘officers, agents, employees, attorneys, and all persons who are in active concert or participation’ from fulfilling any of the pre-orders of the bootleg Dunks, which were put up for pre-order earlier in the year. Consequently, Lotas must also refrain from ‘promoting, offering to sell, selling, and/or taking additional pre-orders’, as the court rules that Nike’s claims of marketplace confusion hold merit.
‘It is irrelevant that Warren Lotas has informed these customers that the Reaper is not affiliated with Nike, because the initial interest confusion attached prior to that disclaimer,’ said Judge Scarsi.
Either way, it looks like this saga is finally drawing to a close.