US Supreme Court denies hearing Nike and Adidas patent dispute

Credits: Image: Nike Flyknit Racer The US Supreme Court has declined to hear Nike’s shoe patent dispute with the sportswear retailer’s German competitor Adidas, a move that came in regards to the former’s attempt to overturn a decision made by the US Patent Office to cancel part of a shoe patent. Court documents revealed that Nike was contesting the tribunal’s decision to invalidate its proposed substitute patent elements based on arguments that Adidas had not raised at the time. This brought to a potential end just one of the long-winded disputes raised by the two sportswear giants, who have been butting heads over various patents linked to the design of knit uppers. Nike was first awarded a patent in March 2008 that provided it with ownership of a textile component made from “different stitch configurations with varying textures” formed using knitting processes. While Adidas went on to petition for a review for the patent, Nike made a move to amend the patent by cancelling previous claims and proposing substitute claims, one of which was opposed by Adidas, which alleged they were still unpatentable. The dispute was then brought to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which sent the case back to the board twice and later rejected a third appeal by Nike last year, leading the brand to submit a petition to the Supreme Court. Nike had initially filed its suit in December 2021, claiming Adidas was infringing on several of its footwear patents, namely its Flyknit knitted upper technology. Adidas then issued a counterclaim against Nike, stating that the company “knowingly and intentionally” infringed on nine patents of its own proprietary athletic technology, with a particular reference to Nike’s Run Club app.
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Claire’s names new chief merchandising officer

Credits: Claudia Lima-Guinehut, Claire's chief merchandising officer. Image: Claire's Accessories retailer Claire’s has announced the appointment of Claudia Lima-Guinehut as the company’s new executive vice president, chief merchandising officer. In the role, Lima-Guinehut has been tasked with leading the retailer’s global merchandising, sourcing and design strategy, as well as the brand’s piercing business. The company said that Lima-Guinehut will continue to help bolster its “on-trend merchandising” while overseeing its product fashion assortment. In a release, CEO, Ryan Vero, said: “Our product takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary for our consumers every day, and we are thrilled that Claudia is joining the team to help continue our legacy as an inviting place where people can experience the joy of self-expression.” Lima-Guinehut joins Claire’s from The Children’s Place, where she most recently served as senior vice president, global merchandising and strategic partnerships, holding responsibility for the brand’s product strategies across multiple channels. Prior to that, she was director of international merchandising for Destination Maternity from 2011 and 2014 and held roles of increasing responsibility at the likes of Zara, Ralph Lauren and Camuto Group. Speaking on her appointment, Lima-Guinehut said: “I’m excited to join Claire’s to continue the tradition of bringing the brand’s beloved consumers, especially younger generations, global fashion product and piercing services that continue to excite them and further drive the business.”
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Shopify extends Shop Pay to enterprise retailers

Credits: Image: Shopify In response to demand from enterprise retailers, Shopify’s Shop Pay is being made accessible to e-commerce businesses not using the Shopify platform. By transforming Shop Pay into a commerce component, enterprise customers can add the feature without the need to completely replace their exisiting commerce infrastructure. The offering is available to enterprises based in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, Shopify said in a press release. According to a recent study conducted by one of the big three consulting firms, Shop Pay boasts a conversion boost of up to 50 percent compared to a guest checkout, surpassing other accelerated checkouts by at least 10 percent. Kaz Nejatian, VP Product and Chief Operating Officer of Shopify, commented on the significance of leveraging Shop Pay, stating, "Enterprises that do not take advantage of Shop Pay are essentially self-sabotaging. They are leaving money on the table." Nejatian emphasized that in a highly competitive retail environment, where large brands are fiercely competing to acquire customers, it is crucial for them to select the tools that can boost their top-line growth without requiring a complete platform overhaul. Shop Pay's effectiveness stems from its extensive identity network, unmatched scale, consumer trust, and velocity of innovation. When a user with a Shop Pay account visits an online store, Shopify recognizes them with a single click. If the customer has recently used Shop Pay, the checkout process can identify them without any action required. This allows Shop Pay to pre-fill all the necessary information, ensuring a seamless one-click checkout experience that is four times faster than a guest checkout.
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