Sports-inspired apparel brand adidas and fashion house Thom Browne resumed their trademark battle in the UK on 17 July 2024, as reported by Reuters.
The High Court in London is hearing the latest round of a global dispute concerning the use of stripes on clothing.
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Thom Browne initiated legal action in London in 2021, seeking to reverse several adidas trademarks that feature the three-stripe motif.
The New York-based designer, which uses a four-bar stripe pattern, argues that adidas is attempting to monopolise the use of stripes on apparel.
Thom Browne shifted from a three-bar to a four-bar pattern in 2007 following adidas’ objections.
In response, adidas is countersuing Thom Browne for allegedly infringing on its trademarks by selling leisure and sportswear adorned with four stripes.
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By GlobalDataadidas accuses the fashion house of leveraging its reputation and brand image.
The dispute previously unfolded in the US, where a jury dismissed adidas’ claim. This decision was sustained on appeal in May 2024.
The litigation extends beyond the UK, with Thom Browne also pursuing trademark cases against adidas in the Netherlands and at the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
In the courtroom, designer Thom Browne’s lawyer Philip Roberts described adidas’ use of some trademarks as “Trojan horses”, aimed at restricting other companies from using stripes on their products.
Roberts stressed in court filings the importance of designers’ freedom to create without such broad monopolistic threats.
adidas’ legal representative, Charlotte May, highlighted Thom Browne’s 2020 sportswear range launch as a critical issue, claiming it directly challenges adidas’ core business.
The trial is anticipated to conclude by the end of July 2024.
In May 2024, US sports apparel maker NIKE secured a partial victory in its dispute over stripes in its designs with adidas in Germany.
In mid-July 2024, adidas reported that its revenue increased by 11% in currency-neutral terms in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) compared to the same period of FY23.
