Adidas AG (ADSGn.DE), a global leader in athletic footwear, has asked the U.S. Trademark Office to deny a request for a Black Lives Matter trademark with three parallel stripes because it could deceive the public.
In a Monday filing, Adidas complained that the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc.’s yellow-stripe logo might be mistaken for its renowned three-stripe logo. It tried to deny the group’s request to use the design on items like shirts, hats, and bags that the German sportswear manufacturer also sells. Adidas declined to respond to the lawsuit. A request for comment on Tuesday was not immediately answered by Black Lives Matter group representatives.
Using its emblem since 1952, Adidas claimed in the lawsuit that it has achieved “international fame and significant public awareness.”
According to court records from a lawsuit Adidas filed against the fashion firm of designer Thom Browne, since 2008, the business has used the three-stripe trademark in more than 90 lawsuits and more than 200 settlement agreements.
In January, a jury, in that case, found that Thom Browne’s striped designs did not infringe on Adidas’ trademark rights.
In its Monday petition, Adidas said that the group’s design was confusingly similar to its emblem and that customers would believe their products were related or originated from the same place.
The Black Lives Matter organization was given until May 6 by the Patent Office to respond.
