Adidas loses Stripe Trademark battle to Luxury Brand Thom Browne

Adidas lost a trademark case against Thom Browne in which it sought to prevent the American designer from using the four stripes logo on its products.

The sportswear and accessories manufacturer claimed that the luxury brand Thom Browne's four-stripe logo was too similar to Adidas' signature three-stripe trademark. Browne's designs typically include four horizontal, parallel stripes on the arm of the garment.

Adidas also sought USD 7.8 million in damages from Browne, but the New York court ruled in favor of the latter.

Browne contended that buyers would be unlikely to be confused between two brands due to differences in the number of stripes, among other things. The designer's legal team also claimed that the two brands cater to different audiences.

Browne's designer wear is aimed at luxury buyers, whereas Adidas manufactures affordable sportswear. A designer winter jacket shirt, for example, will cost you GBP 2000, while a shirt will cost you GBP 300.

Adidas filed a formal case against Browne in 2021, but the dispute between the two companies dates back more than 15 years. When Adidas objected to Browne's three-stripe logo, the designer changed it to four stripes. Browne has expanded since then, with over 300 stores, and has even added sportswear to its lines, which has irritated Adidas even more.