John Geiger, a sneaker customizer who’s built his own brand based on his GF-01 shoe, was sued by Nike last August, with the Swoosh claiming that his sneaker infringes on its Air Force 1 design. In response, Geiger filed to dismiss the allegation, writing in an Instagram post that he’s “been very clear through two years of manufacturing and selling the GF-01 that it was inspired by Nike, and also made sure that anyone purchasing the shoe is aware that it is a designer shoe crafted with higher materials and quality, along with [his own] trademark and changes to the silhouette.”
Yet neither that explanation nor further remarks from attorneys satisfied the lawsuit’s judge, who recently refused to dismiss the trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition claims that Nike has set against Geiger, as The Fashion Law reports.
