Adidas facing Futurecraft 4D patent infringement claims
A US inventor is suing Adidas, claiming that the German sportswear corporation used his patented shock-absorbing technology in its Futurecraft 4D shoe.
Geoff McCue filed the suit on behalf of his family trust yesterday, November 12, at the US District Court for the District of Middle Louisiana.
McCue owns a patent for an “apparatus for damping an applied force” (US number 9,271,542), which he registered at the US Patent and Trademark Office in 2016.
According to McCue, Adidas’ Futurecraft 4D shoes contain shock-absorbing features which infringe the ‘542 patent.
The inventor, who assigned the patent to the McCue Family Trust, said he gave Adidas written notice of its alleged infringement in March 2018, and unsuccessfully attempted to make contact again in June this year.
The trust says it tried to engage in “good faith negotiations” with Adidas before filing the suit.
“Adidas’ continued infringement of the ‘542 patent causes harm to the McCue family trust in the form of price erosion, loss of income, loss of goodwill, damage to reputation, loss of business opportunity, and inadequacy of money damages,” the suit claimed.
McCue is seeking a permanent injunction preventing Adidas from infringing the ‘542 patent, as well as treble damages, and attorneys’ fees.
Musician Pharrell Williams recently collaborated with Adidas on a version of the Futurecraft 4D shoe.
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