In a recent ruling, Nike (NYSE:NKE) has secured the right to feature three stripes on certain trouser designs in Germany, as announced by a court on Tuesday. This decision marks the latest development in an ongoing legal battle between the American sportswear giant and its competitor, Adidas.
Previously, the Duesseldorf regional court had sided with Adidas in a trademark violation lawsuit filed in 2022, prohibiting Nike from using two or three stripes on five trouser designs. However, in the latest appeal hearing, the court has granted Nike permission to include the stripes on four of the contested models, while maintaining the ban on one particular design.
The iconic three parallel stripes are synonymous with Adidas and are vigorously defended by the brand in courtrooms worldwide. Interestingly, Adidas made headlines last year when it withdrew its legal challenge against the yellow three-stripe logo associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, citing concerns that its objection could be misconstrued as criticism of the anti-racism organization.
Nike argues that Adidas’ scope of protection for the striped design is overly narrow, contending that striped decoration does not inherently denote the brand to which it belongs. This latest ruling represents a partial victory for Nike in its efforts to use striped patterns in its apparel designs in Germany.
Featured Image: Unsplash
