Nike sues Wal-Mart as the retail giant storms Manhattan and sells cars

By Beth Pinsker Posted 2:30PM 10/17/08 Shopping, Retail

Nike Shox are popular with NBA players and, therefore, with plenty of teenagers. You can get a pair online for as little as $40. That's pretty low for a designer sneaker, but not as low as the prices usually go at Wal-Mart. So Nike, fearing being undercut by a similar sneaker being put out by the big box giant, is suing over copyright infringement, claiming Wal-Mart's Detra is going to damage its place in the market.

Wal-Mart in the News

Wal-Mart customer checks out at Wal-Mart in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, sales of groceries and back-to-school products helped its August same-store sales rise 3 percent, beating expectations. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Back to school advertisement at Wal-Mart in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, sales of groceries and back-to-school products helped its August same-store sales rise 3 percent, beating expectations. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

New Kids on the Block members (L-R) Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre and Jordan Knight sign copies of their CD "The Block" at Wal-Mart on September 3, 2008 in East Meadow, New York..New Kids on the Block Sign Their New CD "The Block" - September 3, 2008.Wal-Mart.East Meadow, New York United States.September 3, 2008.Photo by Janette Pellegrini/WireImage.com..To license this image (55616078), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Wal-Mart Asia President and CEO Vicente Trius poses in front of the company's logo during an interview in Hong Kong September 3, 2008. Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's top retailer, is considering its first stores in Southeast Asia and expects to approach 10 percent growth in international sales to $100 billion this fiscal year despite a global economic slowdown. The retailer, long a perennial runner-up to Carrefour in China, is enjoying a huge leap in market share as it advances in a $1 billion acquisition of local chain Trust-Mart, expected to be fully completed by 2010. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Reuters

Wal-Mart Asia President and CEO Vicente Trius drinks during an interview in Hong Kong September 3, 2008. Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's top retailer, is considering its first stores in Southeast Asia and expects to approach 10 percent growth in international sales to $100 billion this fiscal year despite a global economic slowdown. The retailer, long a perennial runner-up to Carrefour in China, is enjoying a huge leap in market share as it advances in a $1 billion acquisition of local chain Trust-Mart, expected to be fully completed by 2010. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Reuters

Wal-Mart Asia President and CEO Vicente Trius speaks during an interview in Hong Kong September 3, 2008. Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's top retailer, is considering its first stores in Southeast Asia and expects to approach 10 percent growth in international sales to $100 billion this fiscal year despite a global economic slowdown. The retailer, long a perennial runner-up to Carrefour in China, is enjoying a huge leap in market share as it advances in a $1 billion acquisition of local chain Trust-Mart, expected to be fully completed by 2010. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Reuters

The Portland Oregonian, the newspaper of record in Nike's home town, points out that Nike has sued Wal-Mart before over a similar issue -- a hiking boot with a similar design -- and won $1.6 million in damages. Nike has also refused to sell its products to Wal-Mart in the past for fear of being ripped off. Nike and other shoe companies are also sparring with each other and dueling with stores like Payless over the same kind of infringments. Addidas recently won a case against Payless over a sneaker with a set of three stripes.

Wal-Mart, meanwhile, continues to roll through this holiday season trying to drum up as much business as possible as consumers tighten their belts. On the east coast, they're taking a page from Target's play book and opening mini-locations in Manhattan. Reuters reports that the retailer will have a temporary spot in Times Square and will have a roving truck, mostly to promote its exclusive release of AC/DC's Black Ice album.

On the other end of the country, Wal-Mart is trying to sell cars. Arizona's KTAR reports that two Wal-Mart's in the Phoenix area will host Live X Auto Exchange, which is setting up show rooms. The special areas will only have one car, but plenty of TV screens and computers to hook up buyers and sellers with special software.