Adidas loses stripe trademark lawsuit

Sportswear brand Adidas lost a trademark infringement lawsuit against American luxury fashion brand Thom Browne Inc. As per media report, Adidas had claimed that Thom Browne's four stripes were too similar to its three stripes. A New York jury sided with Browne when Adidas had sought more than $7.8 million (Rs 63 crore) in damages. The three stripes are a common feature in Adidas designs while Browne's creations feature four horizontal, parallel stripes that round the sleeve of a garment. The conflict dates back 15 years. Adidas objected when Browne placed a three-stripe design on a jacket in 2007 because it was too close to their own design. Browne changed to a four-stripe design after deciding to give up.  As per documents of the case, Adidas has filed more than 200 settlement agreements and engaged in more than 90 court battles in relation to its trademark since 2008.