Adidas Loses Trademark Case Against Thom Browne

Concluding a trial that began last week, a jury found Thursday afternoon that the menswear designer’s use of parallel stripes in his designs did not infringe on Adidas’ three-stripe trademark and created confusion among consumers.

Adidas sued Thom Browne in 2021, alleging that the label used a four-stripe pattern that violated its trademark three-stripe logo, which Adidas first registered in 1949.

Thom Browne thinks that, as a luxury fashion brand, shoppers will not mix its luxury wear with the more mainstream Adidas collections. Moreover, the brand owned by the Italian fashion house Zegna claims to have used the four-stripe motif since 2007, and Adidas should have taken legal action earlier.

We are pleased that the jury found that Thom Browne, Inc. never infringed on any Adidas trademarks, spokesman Thom Browne said in a statement. For more than 20 years, Thom Browne has been a pioneering force in luxury fashion, delivering a completely unique and distinctive design aesthetic that blends classic tailoring with American sportswear sensibilities.

Adidas has sought damages of $8 million. It said in a statement Thursday: We are disappointed by the ruling and will continue to vigorously enforce our intellectual property, including appealing accordingly.

Learn more:

Why Adidas’ Lawsuit Against Thom Browne Is More Than A Line

The outcome of such cases could expand the power to enforce trademarks across the fashion industry and beyond.