Birkenstock pressures retailers to stop selling copycats

Birkenstock has been putting pressure on retailers that sell its popular sandals to stop selling rival products made in a similar style. Some retailers including Nordstrom and Zappos have stopped selling the competitive products, and the manufacturers that make them are not pleased. “This is competitive bullying,” said Rusty Hall, chief executive of Mephisto USA. “We haven’t infringed on any design patent.”