FIGHT FOOTWEAR FAKES
A Site to Educate on Shoe Intellectual Property Issues and Eradicate Counterfeit Footwear
What's New
FDRA monitors current developments on footwear IP throughout the year. Find the latest news here:
- No De Minimis Jolt Yet on Footwear, But Shein and Temu Could See Profound Impacts – Footwear has yet to see the full impact from the removal of the de minimis trade exemption, but that's expected to change, particularly when combined with the implementation of higher tariffs. Katie Thomas of Kearney Consumer Institute believes there are several reasons why the combination of tariffs and de minimis has yet to result in a full impact on the footwear sector. (source: WWD, August 2025)
Protecting Footwear IP Globally
While counterfeit footwear remains a significant enforcement challenge, FDRA continually works to proactively survey the global footwear counterfeit landscape, advising the U.S. Government on key countries and issues of concern.
- Counterfeit goods threaten American innovation, competitiveness, jobs, and puts American consumers at risk.
- Counterfeit footwear accounted for the 7th largest product category ($127.6 million, 2% of seizures) in FY 2024, with similar product mix trends continuing into FY 2025 as overall seizure values remained steady.
- Millions of small packages enter the U.S. daily through international mail, with over 90% of shipments classified as low-value—making the international mail and express environments channels the primary pathway for counterfeit goods.
- Customs & Border Protection (CBP) seized more than $5.4 billion worth of counterfeit goods in FY 2025 alone.
Most common counterfeit brands: Nike, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Louboutin, UGG, Crocs
FDRA Voices Concerns Over Global IP Protection Challenges to US Government
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) releases an annual global intellectual property report, known as the Special 301 Review. This key report breaks down the state of IP protection by country and serves as an important tool for U.S. engagement with our trading partners on specific IP issues. FDRA testifies each year on behalf of the footwear industry to provide input to USTR on global footwear IP challenges. In 2025, FDRA testified about the importance of ensuring IP is protected in global markets, and encouraged the Trump administration not to increase tariffs because increased tariffs result in increased counterfeits in the U.S. and elsewhere.
- 2026 FDRA Special 301 Review – Notice of Intent to Testify
- 2025 FDRA Comments on Entry of Low Value Shipments
- 2025 FDRA Testifies at USTR 301 Hearing
- 2025 Special 301 Review: Identification of Countries Under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974
- 2024 FDRA Calls for Stronger Efforts to Combat Counterfeiting in Global Footwear Markets
- 2024 Special 301 Review: Identification of Countries Under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974
- 2023 FDRA Letter to Senate Judicary IP Subcommittee
- 2023 FDRA Testimony Before USTR of 2023 Special 301 Review
- 2022 Special 301 Report (2022)
FDRA testifies at USTR Hearing, February 2026
Footwear IP News
- Nike Wins $11 Million Verdict in Counterfeit Suit Against Divide The Youth
- Counterfeit Nike, Adidas products worth $457K seized from Mass. flea market, police say
- Study Finds 41 Percent of Counterfeit Apparel, Footwear, Accessory Products Tested Failed Safety
- Fake shoe factory of Nike, Adidas, New Balance busted in Delhi; owner arrested
- The Biggest Counterfeit Sneaker Busts of All-Time
- Report: Explosion of Counterfeits and Dupes Makes Earning Trust Harder Than Ever for Retailers
- StockX Says It Weeded Out Nearly $10 Million Worth of Counterfeit Sneakers Last Year
FDRA members receive a monthly IP Digest email.
Shoe-In Show Episodes
#391 Court’s in Session with Sneaker Law’s Kenneth Anand
Sneaker Law founder and former Yeezy GC Kenneth Anand stops by Shoe-In to discuss critical intellectual property, legal hot topics, and the next frontier in IP protection for brands and creators alike. Listen Now
- #361 Protect Ya IP With Matt and Thomas – Matt and Thomas explore the latest developments in IP protection for footwear through various legislative proposals, the Special 301 comment process, and the infamous actions of MSCHF harming our industry. Listen Now
- #212 FDRA’s Efforts to Stop Fakes in Focus – Matt, Andy and Thomas discuss the latest initiatives under development in DC to combat the prevalence of counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms. There is a lot of momentum in this area so you don’t want to miss this conversation! Listen Now
- #155 Global Design Innovation and How to Protect It with NIKE – Matt catches up with NIKE’s Chief IP Officer, Margo Fowler, and Mark Smith, NIKE’s VP of Innovation and Special Projects, to discuss the importance of protecting IP and strategies brands can adopt to successfully defend their trademarks, designs, patents, and IP. Listen Now
CBP Tools Close the Current Enforcement Loophole: Hot Policy Item
The footwear industry relies on American and global customs agencies’ ability to stop and seize the movement of counterfeit shoes. Important loopholes need to be closed that enhance the tools available to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) here in the United States.
FDRA Testifies Before Congress
April 30, 2019 — The Role of Intellectual Property in Sports and Public Safety. Watch Here
Legislation to Combat Design Patent Infringement
Counterfeit Goods Seizure Act, last introduced by Senators Tom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) as S. 2987 in the 116th Congress. This bill would give U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authority to seize goods based on design patent infringement—its purpose is to prevent counterfeiters from shipping labels and tags separately and attaching them inthe U.S. to avoid CBP seizure.
Stopping Counterfeits Sold Online: US Government Action
Online e-commerce marketplaces have helped the sale of knockoff products to explode, eroding American jobs and putting consumers at risk. Key US Government initiatives are looking to slow the movement of these goods in new and innovative ways.
FDRA Weighs In On Key Footwear IP Case
In 2022, FDRA joined a multi-association amicus brief in an intellectual property case that could have major implications for the footwear industry. After Vans sued MSCHF for trademark infringement, MSCHF argued that its shoe is protected by the First Amendment as an "expressive work" and should receive the same treatment as movies, plays, books, songs, etc. The FDRA-supported brief highlights that such an expansion would create a huge loophole for counterfeiters to claim that infringing goods are simply expressive works of art. The brief argues that what MSCHF has proposed will worsen the global problem of IP-infringing products by giving "expressive counterfeits."
FDRA President & CEO Matt Priest Statement on the SHOP SAFE Bill
March 20, 2020 — "Counterfeit footwear threatens jobs in our industry and puts U.S. consumers at risk, and bad actors are using popular e-commerce sites to target unsuspecting consumers. With today's sophisticated counterfeiting operations, it can be nearly impossible for consumers to determine a legitimate good from a counterfeit product. The SHOP SAFE Act will address this issue by requiring e-commerce platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent counterfeits from being sold on their sites. We applaud these leaders in working together to protect American individuals and families, and we look forward to working with Congress and the Administration on this critical issue."
Need More Information? Contact Us
FDRA brings clarity and insights that enhance decision making, efficiency, and productivity for footwear professionals. Our innovative tools and solutions boost the bottom line for our members across the industry — from design to retail. We fight to support footwear jobs and shoe consumers in Washington, DC and around the globe — FDRA is the only footwear association working to eliminate ALL footwear duties. Contact us.
