Crocs sues leading footwear brands for design infringement

American footwear company Crocs has taken legal action against competing brands like Bata and several others in India for design infringement. Crocs popularly known for its Swiss cheese-style shoes, has initiated legal action against Bata and four other brands including Coqui, a Chinese footwear brand distributed by DLF brands, Suncorp Exim for Warner Bros, clogs, Relaxo and Bioworld -- for infringement on its legal rights on clogs.

Crocs, which filed the cases in the district courts of New Delhi, have obtained interim relief. Most of the cases have now been transferred to the Delhi High Court by virtue of applicable statutory provisions. The rulings have subsequently resulted in raids across various stores, including that of Bata's in Delhi and NCR.

The design if Crocs' holed, foam-like shoe that retails for around Rs 2,300 in India, is the most copied design. Similar shoes by Coqui and Warner Brothers, available at various offline and online retailers, cost around Rs 999 and Rs 499, respectively. Bata sells its variants for Rs 399 upwards. Crocs was launched in Indian in 2007 through a joint venture with Chogori Retail and later changed to a franchisee operation in the country. To change its image as the monsoon brand, Crocs, known for its rubber clogs with holes introduced its 350-odd designs from global portfolio such as lace-up sneakers, hover boats and cobbler stud ankle boots in India last year.