Converse filed a lawsuit Tuesday against 31 companies, including K-Mart and Wal-Mart, over their sales of fake Chuck Taylor shoes.

According to Converse, the companies are guilty of trademark infringement after they copied and sold shoes which resemble Converse's iconic looking items, including the diamond pattern on the sole and the Converse's toe-guard design.

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The lawsuit was filed in Brooklyn's United States District Court, where the court document stated that the American company is seeking monetary damages in its 22 separate lawsuits.

Among the 31 companies charged with copying the sneaker design were Ed Hardy, Sketchers, Ralph Lauren, and FILA.

Converse, which has been part of the Nike company for 11 years, also filed a lawsuit with the USITC (United States International Trade Commission), a branch of the federal government which has the power to stop the entry of knockoff shoes in the country.

Since there are many sneaker companies who manufacture their products in other countries, a positive lawsuit in the commission could prevent the counterfeit products from being sold.

In an interview with the New York Times, Converse CEO Jim Calhoun said the aim of filing the lawsuit was to prevent similar incidents in the future.

According to Calhoun, Chuck Taylor can be considered an American icon, and the company is "fortunate to be in possession" of the product.

In the fashion and footwear industry, trademark infringement has been rampant because it is difficult to prove, according to the Times.

But Converse's move in charging 31 companies has been unheard of, especially during a time where fashion battles are often one on one.

Other similar lawsuits regarding trademark infringement were between LVL XIII Brands and LVMH, for nameplate design copying, and Gravity Corp alleging that Under Armour named a product which sounded similar to the name of one of their own.

Tagsconverse, Walmart, Kmart, trademark infringement, Fashion, business news, Lawsuit, suit, Trademark