The Shoe Surgeon and Nike Trademark Battle: Settlement Re…

The Shoe Surgeon and Nike have reached a confidential settlement agreement after the famed shoe and apparel retailer sued customizer Dominic Ciambrone of the Shoe Surgeon, according to a report from Bloomberg Law. Complex has also reviewed a proposed judgment in the case that was filed in the Southern District of New York on Wednesday. While a specific dollar amount was not disclosed, the Shoe Surgeon is said to have paid Nike “an undisclosed sum of money” to resolve the trademark dispute, per Bloomberg Law.

Nike initially sued the Shoe Surgeon in 2024 and accused the customizer of infringing on several of the company’s trademarks “totaling over $60 million dollars.”

The settlement agreement will allow the Surgeon to create custom pieces under special situations but bars him from producing or selling anything that infringes on Nike trademarks.

After the suit was filed in 2024, the Shoe Surgeon shared a statement regarding the lawsuit, writing, “We are confused Nike has chosen litigation over a discussion, but we are confident with proper dialogue and collaboration we can resolve this with the new management team and turn it into a win for the culture.”

The statement continued, “Creating defines us. Our pursuit of greatness is the soul of every creation and authenticity is stitched into our DNA.”

Nike also shared a statement at the time with Complex, which you can read below.

“Our goal is to make sure consumers are not misled and have access to authentic Nike, Inc. products that are authorized and created according to our high standards with the performance benefits they expect. It is unfortunate that after many attempts to resolve this matter privately, we’ve had to take legal action against the Shoe Surgeon for counterfeiting, mass customization, and trademark infringement. In order to safeguard our brand and IP, and aligned with Nike’s commitment to protect the consumer from counterfeit Nike product, we are left with no choice but to seek a legal solution to address how the Shoe Surgeon is constructing counterfeit ‘Nike’ footwear from scratch and selling it as officially branded product. Further, the Shoe Surgeon is teaching others to create counterfeit ‘Nike’ sneakers. These activities are illegal, deceive consumers, and create confusion in the marketplace around source, authenticity, and quality of Nike products.

“We valued our relationship with the Shoe Surgeon and do not have any issues with the limited, one-of-one customization he’s been doing for us or his clients, when allowed under Nike-sponsored athletes’ contracts. In fact, we value opportunities for our athletes, consumers and partners to express themselves through their own style and creativity.”