Goyard Sues The Shoe Surgeon for Trademark Breach

Another day, another sneaker lawsuit. In recent years, we’ve seen more paperwork filed against sneaker customisers than Waystar RoyCo. The latest artist in the crosshairs is no doubt one of the most popular throughout the entire industry, with customiser Dominic Ciambrone (a.k.a. stung by French luxury leather goods brand Goyard for trademark infringement. The lawsuit was submitted to the Central District Court in California last week and first reported by Sneaker Legal on X.

Moving into the weeds, the lawsuit asserts that The Shoe Surgeon used its iconic canvas material on custom sneakers and lighters without authorisation. The brand also claims the materials in question were not obtained directly from Goyard and their authenticity cannot be verified.

Goyard's legal team reportedly sent cease-and-desist letters to The Shoe Surgeon in June and July of 2022 regarding the unauthorised use of their materials. Although the products were briefly removed from his website, Goyard observed that the items reappeared and were promoted on The Shoe Surgeon’s social media platforms by late 2023.

The brand accuses The Shoe Surgeon of exploiting Goyard's reputation and intellectual property for profit, leading to consumer confusion about the authenticity of the products. Goyard seeks the destruction of the remaining infringing products and requests disclosure of the customiser's suppliers and manufacturers. They are also asking for compensation for damages and legal expenses.

The Shoe Surgeon has not commented on the lawsuit.

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