Crocs Sues Walmart and Hobby Lobby Among Other Stores for Copying Their Clogs
Knock it off with the knockoffs.
So says Crocs CROX, +9.96%, a mainstay of “ugly fashion” and Gen Z style, which is suing Walmart WMT, +0.07%, Hobby Lobby and 19 others for copyright infringement.
In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Colorado, Crocs alleges that the 21 businesses have been selling copycats of its classic foam clogs, which run around $50 a pair, at lower prices.
“The rise in consumer online shopping has enabled the sale of infringing footwear on an unprecedented scale,” Crocs said in the complaint. “In 2018, Crocs’ defense efforts resulted in the termination of over 70,000 online auctions for infringing products, and the shutdown of over 1,500 websites, in the United States alone.”
The 108-page suit alleges the copycats infringed on Crocs’ “iconic design marks,” including the “3D” shape and signature holes.
