Vibram, a shoe company perhaps best known for its unique
split-toe running shoe design, recently prevailed in a trademark
and rights of publicity dispute against the heirs of late Ethiopian
Olympic marathoner Abebe Bikila related to its use of the BIKILA
name in connection with its toe shoe line without obtaining
permission from the Bikila heirs.
Abebe Bikila first achieved fame in the running world by winning
a gold medal in the marathon at the 1960 Rome Summer Olympic Games
while running barefoot. He went on to repeat gold at the 1964
Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. His career, however, was
tragically cut short when he was involved in a car accident that
left him paralyzed, and he later died from complications from the
injuries sustained from the accident. Although his career was
cut short, Bikila achieved great fame and notoriety in the running
world and is considered by many to be one of the great twentieth
century long-distance runners.
