Nike Inc sued Japanese fashion brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE) in the Manhattan federal court for allegedly copying some of its most famous shoes, such as Force 1, Air Jordan 1, and Dunk sneakers.
BAPE's designs, says Nike, will confuse potential customers as secondary-market sellers have referred to the BAPE shoes as "Air Force 1s" or "Dunks."
Other than asking for an unspecified amount of money damages, Nike also asked the court to order BAPE to stop selling the shoes.
The shoe giant said BAPE's footwear business "revolves around copying Nike's iconic designs," with some being "near verbatim" copies.
BAPE, which is founded by designer Tomoaki Nagao and owned by Hong Kong-based I.T. Ltd., began selling its products in the US in the mid-2000s.
According to Nike, BAPE sold its shoes sporadically in the US until 2021, when it "drastically increased the volume and scope of its infringement."
BAPE also refused to stop the alleged violations when asked by Nike.


Parents abused by their children often suffer in silence – specialist therapy is helping them find a voice
Union Urges Court to Compel Trump Administration to Restore CFPB Funding
Bolsonaro Blames Medication Mix-Up for Ankle Monitor Tampering as Detention Continues
Airline Loyalty Programs Face New Uncertainty as Visa–Mastercard Fee Settlement Evolves
Afghan Suspect in Deadly Shooting of National Guard Members Faces First-Degree Murder Charge
USPS Expands Electric Vehicle Fleet as Nationwide Transition Accelerates
UPS MD-11 Crash Prompts Families to Prepare Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Peru’s Ex-President Martín Vizcarra Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Corruption
GM Issues Recall for 2026 Chevrolet Silverado Trucks Over Missing Owner Manuals
Bristol Myers Faces $6.7 Billion Lawsuit After Judge Allows Key Shareholder Claims to Proceed
Locked up then locked out: how NZ’s bank rules make life for ex-prisoners even harder
ExxonMobil to Shut Older Singapore Steam Cracker Amid Global Petrochemical Downturn
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification
Bolsonaro Detained Over Alleged Escape Risk After Ankle Monitor Tampering
How to support someone who is grieving: five research-backed strategies
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup
Disaster or digital spectacle? The dangers of using floods to create social media content 



