Last August, Nike filed a lawsuit against John Geiger for its GF-01 shoe. Nike claims trademark infringement over lookalike silhouette to its ever-popular Air Force 1 Low. In the complaint filed Nike stated, “By marketing and selling shoes using Nike’s registered Air Force 1 trade dress, John Geiger knowingly and intentionally creates confusion in the marketplace and capitalizes on Nike’s reputation and the reputation of its iconic shoes.” Now, Geiger has countersued Nike’s lawsuit with claims of their own.
Earlier this week, Geiger has filed a lengthy document in response to each of Nike’s complaints. Previously, Nike has stated that the GF-01 sneakers, which is claimed to be made by La La Land Production, infringed on the trademark design of the Air Force 1. Geiger responds and states that his brand does not have a hand in manufacturing and “merely created a GF-01 prototype based on the design Geiger provided.”
The majority of Geiger’s defense hinges on Nike’s trademark dress registration that focuses on the shoe’s exteriors including the stitching, eyelets, paneling, and the ridge-patterned outsole. The report also indicates that since Nike has released modified versions of the Air Force 1s, its trade dress trademark protections are too vague. In a direct comparison between the two shoe models, Geiger highlights differences in the toe box, midsole, outsole and lack of Nike branding. Geiger also claims that the GF-01 is made with premium leather, considered to be more luxe than what Nike offers, thus its more premium price point. Geiger has also mentioned that other brands including BAPE, Kappa and Tommy Hilfiger have created shoes similar to the AF1s and noted that Nike has yet to file a lawsuit against them. When Geiger motioned to dismiss Nike’s original complaint, he released the lawsuit as an NFT earlier this month.
The litigation between John Geiger and Nike will be taken to court later this week in California.
In other footwear news, Air Jordan 12 Low Golf “Taxi” is ready to hit the green.