The trial between Adidas AG and Thom Browne, which began on 3rd January, has concluded, with Adidas AG losing the lawsuit because they were unable to convince the court that the similarities will lead to customer confusion.
Adidas, the largest sportswear maker in Europe, sued Thom Browne for using the four-bar stripe pattern because they claimed the Designer had violated their three-stripe signature trademark.
Thom Brown had previously used a three-stripe pattern, but in 2007, in response to adidas’s complaints, the American fashion designer added a fourth stripe.
Thom Browne thinks that the latest case is unlikely to cause any confusion because every aspect of what they are doing and selling is distinct, from the market to the price, even the clients. Additionally, the stripe is a very common pattern used in fashion.
Since 2008, adidas has reported more than 90 lawsuits and entered into 200 settlement agreements over trademark infringement.
A spokesman for adidas stated in an email that the firm was dissatisfied with the conviction but will “continue to vigilantly enforce our intellectual property, including filing any appropriate appeals.”
A spokesperson for Thom Browne Inc., stated that the company was delighted with the verdict.
