Nike is moving forward with suing Japanese fashion brand BAPE for allegedly copying some of its iconic footwear designs.
Nike is taking legal action against BAPE, also known as A Bathing Ape. On Wednesday (January 25), news broke that Nike is alleging that BAPE has copied some of the footwear company’s most iconic designs, including the Air Force 1, Dunks and Air Jordans.
In court documents, Nike claims that A Bathing Ape is a “copyist whose infringements have recently grown to become a significant danger to Nike’s rights,” adding that the Japanese label’s “current footwear business revolves around copying Nike’s iconic designs.” Sneaker models listed in mockup papers include the BAPE STA Mid for resembling the the Air Force 1 Mid; the COURT STA High for the Air Jordan 1 High; the COURT STA for the Air Jordan 1 Low and more.
Wow… Nike just sued Bape Filed 1/25/2023 #nike #bape #lawsuit #TM #AF1 #AJ1 pic.twitter.com/44BW5twr1M
— Sneaker & Streetwear Legal Services℠ (@SneakerLegal) January 26, 2023
In the same documents, Nike’s lawyers have stated that “BAPE’s copying is and always has been unacceptable to Nike, and because BAPE’s infringements have recently grown to become a significant danger to…
