The company behind former President Donald Trump’s new job sneaker line on Monday filed a lawsuit against a number of people and businesses alleging the sale and promotion of counterfeit shoes.
The suit, filed in federal court in Arizona, alleges trademark and copyright infringement. The defendants are not being named – the plaintiffs said they will be identified in an upcoming sealed filing. The lawsuit states that they are individuals, unincorporated business associations, and business entities located primarily outside the United States that operate through domestically hosted commercial websites.
Lawyers for 45Footwear LLC asked the court to prohibit the defendants from advertising or selling counterfeit sneakers, or from operating or registering websites related to their sale, as well as any illegal reproduction. They also asked the defendants to account for and pay “any and all profits” related to trademark infringement, or the court would award $2 million for “each use” of the trademark infringed by each defendant and $25,000 for copyright infringement. . .
Trump launched the “Trump Sneakers” line in February. It features three different pairs emblazoned with the letter “T” among other details — high tops, a red laceless sneaker, and a white laceless sneaker — ranging in price from $199 to $399.
Shoes have also been promoted as a benefit high dollar donors. Trump’s name, image and likeness has been licensed to sell sneakers. They have nothing to do with his campaign.
Attorneys for 45Footwear said in the lawsuit that they hired an online fraud investigator who identified people and businesses that were promoting and selling counterfeit sneakers “before any authentic sneakers were shipped.”