Adidas drops objection to Black Lives Matter's three-stripe design
Adidas has decided to drop their disagreement towards trademark registration of the three-line Black Lives Matter (BLM) symbol.
The large sports design company from Germany had requested the US Trademark Office to decline Black Lives Matter's trademark application that displayed three horizontal lines. However, they later changed their decision just two days after.
According to a statement from the company, Adidas is planning to retract its objection against the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's request to own the trademark soonest possible.
Adidas informed the US Trademark Office that Black Lives Matter's design was extremely similar to its well-known three-stripe trademark. They were concerned that this may cause confusion among consumers, who could mistake the Black Lives Matter items for being produced or associated with Adidas.
The aim was to stop the registration of the design as a trademark and its use on merchandise sold by Adidas, such as bags and T-shirts.
The team that is aiming to secure the trademark, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, is the primary organization within the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement includes numerous groups located throughout the globe but doesn't have a centralized governing entity.
In November 2020, the organization submitted an application for a federal trademark featuring a yellow three-stripe pattern. This trademark is intended for use on various products, such as clothing, printed materials, bags, wristbands, and cups.
The Black Lives Matter campaign began a decade ago as a response to the excessive use of force by the police against individuals of black ethnicity.
Adidas has been utilizing the three-stripe design since 1952 and has successfully defended it in legal battles many times. According to court records from a case filed against fashion designer Thom Browne and his brand, there have been more than 90 lawsuits and over 200 settlements reached since 2008.
In January, Thom Browne emerged victorious after a successful defense in court where the jury ruled in their favor.
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Adidas recently announced that it will be reducing its payments to shareholders significantly. The reason for this is due to the costly consequences that came with the unsuccessful collaboration with musician and fashion designer, Kanye West.
The company has acknowledged that they haven't yet made a decision on what to do with a large number of Yeezy sneakers that are still unsold. These sneakers are a result of the company's separation from West, who made some offensive remarks, including antisemitic comments, in October.
