I believe that in the eyes of many friends, sneakers are divided into: “Nike Adidas” and “other brands”. Although this pattern has changed a lot in recent years, we have to admit that Nike and Adidas are still the two big brothers in the sneaker circle.
Last Friday, Adidas filed a federal lawsuit against Nike, its largest competitor in Europe and the United States, accusing it of infringing on multiple Adidas patents for mobile applications and shoe technology. The detailed accusations are as follows:
1. Adidas believes that the so-called Nike Adapt system that Nike is proud of has plagiarized the adidas 1 shoe model launched by adidas in 2004 that “can sense and adjust the comfort of the shoe while wearing it”;
2. Nike’s Run Club, Training Club and other apps infringe on adidas-related patents;
3. Nike’s SNKRS app infringes Adidas’ patent that allows users to “reserve and purchase limited edition sneakers” on the Confirmed app.
Taking a closer look at the three major accusations, the first is the adidas 1 and Nike Adapt mentioned by Adidas. These are two very interesting shoes. For Nike’s Nike Adapt, the shoelaces are tightened through the motor built into the shoe, thereby freeing up your hands. , reaching a lace-less state.
For example, the Nike Adapt BB series of basketball shoes can adjust the tightness of the shoes with the Nike Adapt app on your mobile phone; Nike Adapt Auto Max and Adapt Huarache are also adjusted through mobile apps, one of which is inspired by air max. Fusion, a product based on the Huarache concept.
The earlier HyperAdapt 1.0 also had the idea of automatically tying shoelaces, but it did not have an app on your phone. When you put it on, it automatically adapts and then adjusts the tightness through buttons. It also needs to be charged. This pair The sale price of shoes at that time was very high, making it difficult to acquire, and this technology was also beyond the reach of ordinary people.
When it comes to the concept of “automatic shoelaces”, we have to talk about Nike’s “AIR MAG”. In “Back to the Future”, the shoes worn by the male protagonist are Nike’s AIR MAG. This is a 1980s movie. In the movie, the shoes were not purely automatic lacing at that time, but also required the assistance of staff, but this concept has been passed down and laid the foundation for Nike’s subsequent products.
Adidas’ adidas_1 announced this technology as early as 2005. For the first time, a chip was placed in the midsole of the shoe, and the softness and hardness of the shoe were adjusted through the sensing of the satellite computer, thereby providing the wearer with the most suitable midsole feedback. . adidas_1 has running shoes and basketball shoes. The midsole structure of both pairs of shoes is super complicated.
Of course, the calculation and processing methods of basketball shoes and running shoes are different. When you put on running shoes, every 4 steps you take, the midsole will be adjusted. There is a switch and it will automatically shut down. It is very smart. Basketball shoes are even more powerful. They will analyze your various pressure data to determine your playing style, whether it is more emergency stop jumpers or more running, and constantly adjust to meet your needs.
Around 2006, Adidas launched this kind of shoes. Adidas’ shoes changed the midsole, while Nike’s shoes changed the lacing system, which also met the need to adjust the comfort of the shoes.
The second demand is about online APPs. Nike made Run Club and Training Club in the early years, and Adidas also has similar things.
The last appeal is between the two apps SNKRS and Confirmed. Adidas said that Nike infringed on their patent of “booking and purchasing limited edition sneakers.”
Adidas first launched this app globally in February 2015, while the Chinese version of SNKRS only appeared in 2017. The SNKRS app used by Nike to sell limited-edition shoes infringes on a patent related to confirming the authenticity of potential buyers. The implication may be that SNKRS copied the anti-BOT technology of CONFIRMED App?
Rather than saying that Adidas is suing Nike, it is better to say that Adidas is fighting back. Because on December 13 last year, Nike asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to block the import of many Adidas sports shoes on the grounds that they infringed on its own Flyknit flying line design technology.
Nike said in a complaint filed last year that 49 Adidas shoes use PrimeKnit technology, which infringes on six of Nike’s patents. The Adidas shoes considered to be infringing include casual shoes, football shoes, running shoes, and hiking shoes. Involving Ultraboost, Terrex, X Speedflow and other product lines.
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