Porsche wants to stop Crocs, a shoemaker, from using the Cayman name in its product lines. Crocs is believed to be fighting the matter.
Even though it started a few months back, the looming case between foam resin shoes and premium sports cars has escaped more media attention. The issue is the Cayman name, which Porsche claims trademark for its exclusive use of. However, Crocs still uses it. Crocs Cayman is an all-plastic clog that has thick soles. It retails at US$30 per pair, while Porsche Cayman sells for US$51,000.
Crocs Europe’s most recent quarterly report shows that Porsche had written a letter in May to Crocs claiming infringement of its trademark rights. It demanded that Crocs stop using the name again, and pay all costs related to its complaint. In July, the Zuffenhausen-based automaker sued Crocs to stop them from marketing the Cayman name here in Germany.
The matter was not discussed by either company, but the Crocs quarterly report stated that the company would “vigorously defend itself” against such claims.
Although it may sound like Porsche Cayman, it is actually named after the South American caiman reptile, and not the tax haven island.