Adidas loses legal battle against Nike.
Adidas' famous three stripes are what sets them apart, but a recent court decision states not all side stripes belong to them. The court favored Nike in a legal battle against Adidas.
It's common knowledge that Adidas' sports clothing has three vertical stripes on the sides, each of equal width. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that every side stripe pattern is exclusive to Adidas AG. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court clarified this, stating that other companies can also use stripe patterns as a decorative element.
The court examined five athletic pants that Nike wanted to sell in Germany, and while one pair resembled the Adidas logo too closely, the other four didn't. So, they were allowed to be sold in the country.
This has happened before, in 2005, when a court prohibited selling shoes with two stripes because they looked too much like the Adidas logo. The dispute had been over Nike's attempt to sell pants with stripes that closely resembled the Adidas symbol. Although the courts have favored Adidas in some cases, this instance was different. The specific stripe design and other signs on the pants need to be taken into account.
The legal fight between these two sportswear giants is far from over, but this ruling has given Nike a boost, allowing them to sell a selection of pants with stripe designs that differ from the Adidas logo.
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In the sporting goods industry, this recent court judgment is seen as a significant shift, as it challenges the traditional understanding of design rights associated with the iconic three-stripe logo of Adidas. Despite losing this particular battle, Adidas continues to be involved in numerous legal processes against competitors like Nike, aiming to protect its brand and intellectual property in the sportswear market.
Source: www.ntv.de
