Hands free technology enables a person to slip their feet into shoes without using hands or tying shoelaces.
In July 2025, Kizik Design, LLC (“Kizik”) Utah-based footwear company filed a Complaint through its parent company and licensing arm (collectively the ‘Plaintiffs’) against Skechers U.S.A., Inc a rival California footwear company for patent infringement of its ‘hands-free’ footwear technology and design through sale of its hand free ‘slip in’ footwear technology and design. The Plaintiffs alleged that Skechers ‘knowingly and willfully’ copied and infringed four patents
protecting hands-free innovations and two design patents protecting ornamental innovations. The Plaintiffs further contended that whilst it had licensed their ‘handsfree’ technology/design to several footwear manufacturers, Skechers launched its own version of hands-free range of footwear without the Plaintiff’s prior express authorization. The Plaintiffs contended that Skechers had copied its category of footwear and not just its product. The Plaintiffs accused Skechers of “shamelessly” copying others innovations, attributing its success (‘astonishing growth”) leading to it being acquired recently for a phenomenal amount.
Skechers countered such allegation by challenging the timing of the Plaintiff’s lawsuit and referred its timing as “curious.” Skechers had advertised, promoted, marketed and sold footwear using slip- in technology and design uninterruptedly since December 2021 and without any protest from the Plaintiffs. The lawsuit alleging infringement by Skechers was filed after the announcement of the merger. Referring itself to be the “leader in hands-free footwear technology”, Skechers has publicly
vowed to “vigorously defend” itself against the “baseless” patent infringement claims basis it having developed the ‘slip in’ technology for which it holds more than 100 utility and design patents globally and which it has vigorously enforced. Skechers in its defence proposes to challenge the validity of Kizik’s patents and the underlying infringement claims.
Offensive patent litigation as a strategy to thwart competition can cause irreparable and, irreversible damage to a competing rival’s goodwill and reputation besides leading to plummeting market share and sales. The cited case is a prime example of competing rivals seeking more than just, its own market share.