Walmart and Vans have reached a settlement in a trademark lawsuit, avoiding a scheduled trial later this month. The resolution, disclosed in California federal court filings, includes Walmart agreeing to a permanent court order preventing the sale of shoes that Vans claimed replicated their best-selling designs.
While specific settlement details are undisclosed, representatives from both companies have not yet responded to comments as of Thursday.
Costa Mesa-based Vans gained fame in the 1970s within the Southern California skateboarding community and is now a global brand under Denver-based VF Corp. In 2021, Vans filed a lawsuit against Walmart, alleging the replication of key elements of their popular sneakers, such as the Old Skool low-top and Sk8-Hi high-top shoes. Vans argued that Walmart’s imitations, priced under $20, were «cheap, poorly made, and confusingly similar» to Vans’ $60 originals.
U.S. District Judge David Carter had granted Vans’ request to temporarily halt the sales of Walmart’s contested shoes last year. Despite rejecting Vans’ attempt to hold Walmart in contempt later that year, the judge acknowledged the validity of the order.
In its legal pursuit, Vans sought an injunction against further sales, Walmart’s profits from the contested shoes, and additional monetary damages. The case, titled Vans Inc v. Walmart Inc, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California under case number 8:21-cv-01876.
This settlement concludes this legal chapter between the retail giants, resolving their differences over alleged trademark infringement.
