New Balance Sues Decathlon's U.S. Subsidiary, Alleging Running Shoe Logo Infringes "N" Trademark

New Balance sued Decathlon's U.S. subsidiary on September 15, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleging that the logo design used on its Kiprun running shoes infringes New Balance's trademark rights in the letter "N."

In the complaint, New Balance said that the Boston-based company has used its iconic "N" trademark on footwear since the 1970s, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars promoting the mark, and has sold hundreds of millions of pairs of shoes bearing the logo worldwide. The complaint alleged that the mirror-image "K" logo used on Decathlon's Kiprun running shoes is "unmistakably an N" and would confuse consumers. New Balance also cited social media posts noting that some users had noticed the logo's resemblance to New Balance's "N."

Decathlon, for its part, argued that the logo "frequently uses a mirrored design, including when used alone, but is actually the letter K rather than an N." According to Reuters, spokespeople for both companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday after the lawsuit was filed.

New Balance asked the court to issue an injunction to stop Decathlon from continuing to use the allegedly infringing logo, and sought the recall and destruction of Kiprun shoes bearing the logo, as well as unspecified monetary damages, the amount of which would be determined by a jury trial. The complaint specifically identified eight allegedly infringing Kiprun shoe models, including the Kipstorm Lab, a flagship product used by Decathlon's professional athletes.