ASICS Granted Motion For Preliminary Injunction Against Payless Shoesource
Contact:
Michael E. Zall
ASICS Vice President
General Counsel
(949) 727-7118
Irvine, CA (August 24, 2006) - ASICS® America Corporation (Irvine, California) and ASICS Corporation Japan (Kobe, Japan) announced today that they have been granted a motion for preliminary injunction enjoining Payless Shoesource, Inc. from infringing the ASICS Stripe Design Trademark. The court enjoined Payless from “…importing, exporting, selling, distributing, offering to sell, soliciting orders for, taking orders for, and/or advertising or promoting, footwear bearing a design similar to ASICS’s Stripe Design Trademark and designated as Payless’s Champion shoes and/or any and all colorable imitation or variation thereof”.
Judge R. Gary Klausner, District Court Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California granted the motion on August 23, 2006.
“The Payless Champion shoes were designed to ride on the image and goodwill ASICS has developed over the years. The court has recognized this and acted accordingly.” says Michael E. Zall, Vice President and General Counsel for ASICS America Corporation. “ASICS has spent more than 35 years building a world renowned premium brand and nurturing the goodwill represented by the ASICS stripe mark. Payless was well aware of our heritage and our famous stripe trademark, and intentionally attempted to capture this image for use on their discount shoes.”
ASICS America Corporation, with more than 50 years of footwear manufacturing experience, offers a full line of performance-driven athletic shoes and technical active sports apparel and accessories. The ASICS® shoe line includes cutting-edge, technical footwear for running, racing, cross country, track and field, walking, training, court, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, cheerleading, Sportstyle and Onitsuka Tiger™.
Download: ASICS v. Payless: Preliminary Injunction Decision (Aug. 23, 2006)
