Tension between Adidas and Skechers has intensified once again as Adidas sued its rival after accusing it of infringing its Springblade design.
In a complaint filed in the US District Court for the District of Oregon, Adidas reportedly said that Skechers willfully infringed two design patents related to Springblade.
Springblade is a three-year-old design which helps to propel runners forward.
Skechers had created a similar design, Mega-Flex, which is allegedly an infringement of the Springblade.
“This pattern of unlawful behaviour and freeloading in the industry is outrageous and must end,” Adidas reportedly said in a statement.
The company added: “We will take every legal measure possible to protect and defend our innovations.”
Adidas has previously accused Skechers of selling products that infringe the trade dress of its Stan Smith and Supernova line of shoes, as well infringing its “well-known” three-stripe trademark.