By Stewart Bishop

Law360, New York (November 15, 2011, 3:01 PM ET) -- Shoe manufacturer Crocs Inc. hit Walgreen Co. with a patent suit Friday in Colorado federal court, accusing the retailer of blatantly ripping off its distinctive footwear designs. 

Crocs alleges that Walgreen's Caribbean Cartel line of molded footwear are obvious copies of “well-known and successful Crocs styles,” such as the Niwot, Colo.-based company’s Crocband design, according to the complaint.

“Walgreens’ continued sale ... of molded footwear, including without limitation, the Caribbean Cartel footwear, infringes [Crocs’] patents,” Crocs said in its suit. “These infringing actions have resulted in...