French fashion label Goyard filed a suit in the Central District Court in California last week. It claims that sneaker customizer The Shoe Surgeon used designs “identical, indistinguishable from, or confusingly similar to Goyard’s protected designs without consent from the brand,” according to Yahoo News Singapore.

The Shoe Surgeon’s product descriptions claim that the infringed products include “authentic” Goyard canvas. Goyard disputes these claims since the sneaker customizer does not acquire materials used from the label directly.

According to lawyer and law firm @sneakerlegal on Instagram, Goyard isn’t being unreasonable. “Having dealt with Goyard multiple times myself, I can guarantee that they sent a C&D [cease-and-desist] before filing this lawsuit. Which means The Shoe Surgeon didn’t agree to stop.”

He is right.

Goyard sent two cease-and-desist letters to The Shoe Surgeon in June and July 2022. This lawsuit has arisen because the sneaker customizer continued to promote the infringed products on his social media channels in 2023 despite briefly removing them from his website shortly after the second C&D letter.

Ultimately, Goyard wants The Shoe Surgeon and its distributors to hand over what’s left of their infringing products—including sneakers and lighters adorned with what appears to be Goyard’s leather—for destruction. It also wants The Shoe Surgeon to disclose its list of suppliers and manufacturers and compensate the brand for damages and court-related costs.

The Shoe Surgeon hasn’t commented. Stay locked to SNKRDUNK Magazine as we bring you the latest in this story.

Images via @sneakerlegal and U.S. District Court

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