New Balance filed a lawsuit against Golden Goose last week, alleging that the high-end fashion company infringed on the trade dress of its iconic 990 sneakers.
The complaint, which was filed on Aug. 18 in Massachusetts' district court, alleges that Golden Goose's Dad-Star shoe is a deliberate attempt to "foster a perceived association between its products and New Balance in the minds of consumers."
The New Balance suit highlights the similarities between all of its 990 sneakers, ranging from the v1 to the v6, as compared to the Golden Goose Dad-Star. The Boston-based sportswear brand also points to the resemblance of the grey shades used on the 990 sneakers, which causes further confusion among consumers. While the New Balance 990 shoes typically retail for around $200, the Golden Goose Dad-Star costs $625.
New Balance also makes mention that Golden Goose may have intentionally named its sneaker the "Dad-Star," as it believes the 990 is well-known to consumers as the original "dad shoe," and fans may confuse the name of Golden Goose's model with the silhouettes from the 990 line.
New Balance is asking the court to halt Golden Goose from advertising and selling the Dad-Star sneaker or releasing products in the future that infringe on its 990 trade dress. New Balance also wants the court to award it with the profits Golden Goose made from selling the Dad-Star shoe.
