Here's a fact you may not know: Skechers is the second most popular sneaker brand in the United States. Despite a $40 million lawsuit in 2011 following false claims that Shape-Ups would do anything for customers except put a sizable dent in their street cred, the brand's valuation has climbed from $600 million to $8 billion. A lot of that has to do with the label's focus on performance running sneakers that are built to support what's sometimes though to be a healthier, mid-foot strike. Additionally, its shoes are often much less expensive than, say, Nike's $150 Flyknits or Adidas's $180 Ultra Boosts.

But when it comes to a category referred to as "lifestyle sneakers," (i.e. sneakers you shouldn't be breaking a sweat in) the brand the brand has taken a different approach. Often, this has been by crafting styles that have more than a little in common with sneakers made by their biggest competitors. Only, one of their recents efforts was found by a judge to have such a striking resemblance to the Adidas Stan Smith that he ordered its production to be ceased for good.

A quick spin through some Skechers inventory reveals silhouettes and designs that might be familiar to some (all?) sneaker enthusiasts. We're talking "Energy Burst" soles which have some Adidas's Boost technology vibes, and knit uppers that might owe something to Nike's Flyknit development. There are even some dress shoes with a very Lunargrand-looking sole.

In response to the ruling, Skechers President Michael Greenberg stated, "While this is a non-issue from a commercial standpoint, we are disappointed in the ruling and fully intend to appeal it in order to ensure that our footwear designers retain the freedom to use common design elements that have long been in the public domain." Now, there's a distinction to be made between "common design elements" and similarities so close that the judge could not tell the sneakers apart from just a few feet away. And while Skechers claims the shade of green used in their style was darker than Adidas's, there's clearly more at play here than just a heel detail.

Skechers' "Divergent" sneaker, which takes cues from Nike's Flyknit Chukka and Adidas's Boost technology.

But here's where it gets interesting. Skechers is hardly the first brand to borrow heavily from the Stan Smith. In fact, right now and in the last few years, the market has been flooded with versions from high-end labels like Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant, Common Projects, and Visvim. And even Nike has seen an influx of high-end copycats of its iconic Air Force 1. Is it that Adidas doesn't feel as threatened by a $500 version of its sneakers that only a handful of people, relatively speaking, will actually buy? Does a luxury market saturated with upgraded options make their under-$100 shoe only that much more appealing? Because someone, or some brand, offers a Stan Smith-derived design at a lower price and and in every mall across the country, Adidas clearly sees it as a completely different story.