LL Bean has agreed to halt the sale of its Freeport shoes to settle a lawsuit from Skechers USA, which accused the outdoor retailer of copying patented designs.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett in Manhattan approved an injunction barring LL Bean from making, importing, or selling shoes infringing on two Skechers design patents. The patents, related to unique “heel cups” with sweeping, curved designs, expire in 2038.
Skechers filed the complaint in July, claiming LL Bean’s $99 Freeport shoes imitated its patented design, which has driven millions in sales. Skechers argued LL Bean sought to capitalize on its success.
Details of the settlement remain undisclosed, and neither company nor their lawyers have commented on the case. Skechers also sought unspecified damages.
LL Bean, founded in 1912 and based in Maine, named the Freeport shoes after its hometown. Skechers, the world’s third-largest footwear brand, was founded in 1992 in Manhattan Beach, California.
The case is Skechers USA Inc et al v LL Bean Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-05336.
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