Ralph Lauren destroying all its Converse-"inspired" shoes

By

Olivier Guyot

Published
Jan 30, 2015

Converse started quite the fight in the fall. The group from Nike filed a lawsuit against companies that it says infringed upon its trademark. In all, 31 copies of its landmark Chuck Taylor model by several players in the fashion and retail industry are concerned.

And the move is starting to bear results. The American press has reported that the Ralph Lauren group, one of the 31 companies, has decided to destroy all the models in question in its collections. The two groups reached an agreement on 16 January, via the US International Trade Commission, before the court could deliberate on the matter.

The agreement includes the destruction of 36 models created by Ralph Lauren but also all the associated elements, from the original sketches to the marketing tools. An undisclosed amount of restitution was also agreed upon.

After having found a compromise with Ositos Shoes Inc., PW Shoes Inc. and Hitch Enterprises Pty Ltd, the settlement with Ralph Lauren is the first between Converse and one of its most renowned adversaries in the matter. Other major groups facing the lawsuit include Walmart, Aldo and H&M, followed by Fila, Skechers and Ed Hardy.

If the outcome of this affair turns out positive for Converse, it could constitute a key example for the industry in the battle against copies.