LINDON, Utah, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 16th, the Unified Patent Court, a European court whose patent rulings apply across 18 European Union countries, ruled in favor of HandsFree Labs, Inc. (“HFL”), the parent company of Kizik® and IP affiliate company, Fast IP, LLC, in its patent case against Skechers. Skechers had argued it did not infringe and that HFL’s patent EP 4 003 084 B1 was “hopelessly invalid.” The Court disagreed on both points, and ruled that certain Skechers hands-free shoes infringe the patent.

HandsFree Labs welcomes the Court’s decision and the order requiring Skechers to stop selling and remove the infringing hands-free footwear products from the market throughout the Unified Patent Court territory, including Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, and the other 14 participating member states. The Court also ordered Skechers to pay damages. The UPC’s decision (UPC_CFI_743/2025 and 1819/2025) can be appealed by both sides.

HFL’s patent litigation against Skechers in the US remains ongoing, however, the UPC’s validity and infringement determinations support HFL’s positions and suggest a favorable outcome in the US. HFL looks forward to continuing to enforce and defend its intellectual property rights.

At HandsFree Labs, protecting innovation is as important as creating it. We use our patented hands-free technology in our own brands and license it to industry-leading partners to accelerate the adoption of hands-free footwear worldwide.

About HandsFree Labs

Founded in 2017, HandsFree Labs (“HFL”) is the innovation and IP engine behind Kizik®, the world’s original hands-free footwear brand, and Blue Ox, hands-free work boots built for the skilled trades. HFL holds more than 250 granted and pending patents worldwide and licenses its hands-free technology to industry-leading footwear partners. Learn more at handsfreelabs.com

ashley.sampson@kizik.com

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SOURCE HandsFree Labs, Inc.