Nike Successfully Defends Itself against Unfair Competition Claims

A federal judge from the Northern District of Illinois has granted summary judgment to sporting goods manufacturer Nike on several unfair competition claims brought by a maker of “padded compression shorts,” which athletes wear to prevent injuries.   Among the reasons for the court’s ruling was that Nike did not purposely try to deceive the consumer in “commercial advertising or promotion.”   As background, the court noted that plaintiffs McDavid Knee Guard and Stirling Moul