After months of legal battle, Nike and Dominic Ciambrone, better known as The Shoe Surgeon, have buried the hatchet. In 2024, Nike filed a lawsuit against the sneaker customizer for using iconic elements such as the Swoosh and recognizable colorways on custom sneakers—something Nike claimed could mislead consumers.
The Shoe Surgeon, known for his luxurious, handcrafted reinterpretations of existing sneakers, has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum as part of the settlement. He is also no longer allowed to use Nike’s trademarks in a way that could cause confusion, as seen in some of his previous designs.
However, the settlement does leave room for creativity. The Shoe Surgeon is still allowed to produce custom sneakers, provided this is done under conditions pre-approved by Nike. This appears to strike a delicate balance between creative freedom and brand protection.
Read more stories like this on the Sneakerjagers news page.
