#Kizik #Skechers #HandsFree Labs

HandsFree Labs Initiates Lawsuit Against Skechers

On July 24, 2025, HandsFree Labs, Inc. (HFL), renowned for its innovative contributions to the footwear industry, announced that it has officially initiated legal proceedings against Skechers USA, Inc. The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, asserts that Skechers has intentionally infringed upon several utility and design patents held by HFL that are crucial to the operation of its hands-free footwear technologies.

The complaint highlights that Skechers has unlawfully utilized HFL's patented mechanical innovations, which are essential for enabling true hands-free shoe entry. Specifically, HFL alleges that Skechers has infringed on four utility patents and two design patents that cover various fundamental aspects of hands-free footwear. Skechers’ rapidly expanding line of Hands Free Slip-ins has been at the center of this controversy, as HFL claims it integrates technologies that the company developed long before Skechers entered the market.

Gareth Hosford, CEO of HFL, emphasized the significance of their innovation, stating, "This isn't just a product Skechers copied, it's an entire category we created. From the beginning, our mission was to transform the experience of putting on shoes, making it easier and quicker for everyone. We invested considerable resources into creating this technology to address a real-world issue and bring hands-free footwear into reality. Now, we find ourselves in a position where we must defend our work against a corporation that opted to imitate instead of innovate."

HFL has built a robust global intellectual property portfolio boasting over 200 patents related to hands-free footwear technologies. These patents date back more than 15 years and encompass multiple proprietary systems like Cage®, Unified™, Flex Arc™, and Squeeze It®. Since 2019, HFL has successfully licensed its technologies to premier brands like Nike, Inc., establishing its commitment to ethical and responsible innovation. In stark contrast, Skechers has reportedly launched its own hands-free line without prior communication or licensing from HFL, instead marketing its