The Chuck has had enough. Nike Inc.-owned Converse has filed a lawsuit against 31 companies, including Walmart, H&M, Skechers, Ed Hardy and more, for copying its signature Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker. The suit, filed on Tuesday at the International Trade Comission, claimed that the companies are infringing trademarks that cover the appearance of the canvas shoe and the shoe’s diamond pattern sole.
Copycat Chuck Taylors have become increasingly common in recent years—a tell-all sign of consumers’ undying love for the classic sneaker. However, Converse said the imitations are confusing shoppers and causing “substantial and irreparable injury” to the brand name. The company reported it has served about 180 cease-and-desist letters related to look-alikes since 2008.
Nike’s latest annual earnings revealed that Converse sales grew 17 percent to nearly $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2014.