Nike Sues The Shoe Surgeon for Trademark Infringement and Counterfeit Sneaker Production

Nike has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against The Shoe Surgeon, accusing the renowned custom sneaker business of creating and selling counterfeit Air Jordan 1s. The lawsuit follows years of attempts to resolve the issue privately and aims to protect Nike's brand and consumers.

Nike Files Trademark Lawsuit Against The Shoe Surgeon for Selling Counterfeit Air Jordan 1s

According to documents disclosed by @sneakerlegal on X, Nike has initiated a trademark infringement lawsuit against The Shoe Surgeon. Nike's official statement is at the bottom of the page.

The Shoe Surgeon, led by Dominic Chambrone, is widely recognized as the world's most prominent sneaker customizer. He is particularly renowned for his distinctive, high-end custom Air Jordan 1s. The Shoe Surgeon has evolved into the preferred source for one-of-a-kind footwear among celebrities, professional athletes, and avid sneaker enthusiasts seeking genuine distinction in the sneaker industry.

The Shoe Surgeon's business has expanded significantly beyond one-off Nike/Jordan footwear due to its increasing recognition in the footwear industry. In addition to selling numerous pairs of his own custom Air Jordans for over $1,000 each, he established his sneaker customization school, the SRGN Academy, which instructs students on creating their own custom Air Jordan 1s at its locations in New York City and Los Angeles. Furthermore, The Shoe Surgeon has established partnerships with Reebok, Pepsi, and other prominent brands.

Last year, Nike commissioned The Shoe Surgeon to create a pair of footwear to commemorate LeBron James's becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer. The Shoe Surgeon has no hesitation in creating one-of-a-kind products for Nike athletes and associated notable figures.

According to Sneaker News, Nike has been communicating with The Shoe Surgeon for more than two years and has convened numerous meetings to express their apprehensions regarding selling "counterfeit" shoes falsely identified as Air Jordan 1s and instructing others to produce their unauthorized product. Nike representatives assert that The Shoe Surgeon expanded his business despite claiming he would adhere to Nike's rights.

Nike Takes Legal Action Against The Shoe Surgeon to Protect Brand Integrity and Prevent Counterfeiting

Sneaker News has been provided with an official statement concerning their legal action against The Shoe Surgeon:

“Our goal is to make sure consumers are not misled and have access to authentic NIKE, Inc. products that are authorized and created according to our high standards with the performance benefits they expect. Unfortunately, after many attempts to resolve this matter privately, we’ve had to take legal action against the Shoe Surgeon for counterfeiting, mass customization, and trademark infringement. To safeguard our brand and IP, and aligned with Nike’s commitment to protect the consumer from counterfeit Nike products, we are left with no choice but to seek a legal solution to address how the Shoe Surgeon is constructing counterfeit “Nike” footwear from scratch and selling it as officially branded product. Further, the Shoe Surgeon is teaching others to create counterfeit “Nike” sneakers. These activities are illegal, deceive consumers, and create confusion around Nike products' source, authenticity, and quality in the marketplace.

“We valued our relationship with the Shoe Surgeon and do not have any issues with the limited, one-of-one customization he’s been doing for us or his clients, when allowed under Nike-sponsored athletes’ contracts. In fact, we value opportunities for our athletes, consumers and partners to express themselves through their own style and creativity.”

Nike's objectives are to prevent consumers from being deceived into purchasing products that are not authentic Nike products and to safeguard its intellectual property as it continues to advance its business in the context of the Air Jordan 1, which is one of the most significant tentpoles in its retro footwear business.