ARTICLE
24 January 2025

Stripe Wars: Nike And Adidas Clash In Court

KB
KBZ Zuradzki Barczyk & Partners Advocates and Attorneys-at-law LP

Contributor

KBZ Żuradzka & Wspólnicy Adwokaci i Radcy Prawni Sp. K. has been active since 1991. Until 1999, the legal name of the firm was Biuro Obsługi Prawnej „IUS” S.C. It was a partnership of two legal professional (legal counsel and an advocate). It was later converted into a limited partnership (B. Żuradzka Kancelaria Prawna Sp.K.). Since July 2011, the firm has been operating under its present name. The firm’s founder and mentor is Barbara Żuradzka, a lawyer and a winner of the Golden Skills and Competence Laurel Award from the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Katowice, Poland.

Since 2004, we have been a Polish member of the international Association of Independent European Lawyers (www.aiel.com). This London-based organisation was founded in 1991 and currently has a membership of 30 law firms based in Europe and worldwide, all of them employing a few hundred lawyers in total. This allows us to offer a competitively-priced and efficiently-delivered array of legal services, such as company

The world of sportswear has been shaken by a landmark legal battle...
Poland Intellectual Property

The world of sportswear has been shaken by a landmark legal battle...

The world of sportswear has been shaken by a landmark legal battle between two iconic brands, Nike and Adidas.👟👕

The dispute centered around stripes – a seemingly simple design element that has become a symbol of both companies.

Adidas, known for its three-stripe trademark, took Nike to court, claiming that the American sportswear giant's use of stripes on certain joggers infringed on its intellectual property. ⚖️

After a series of legal twists and turns, the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf finally ruled in Nike's favor. 🎉 While one of Nike's designs was found to infringe on Adidas' trademark, the other four were given the green light.✅

The court emphasized that not every striped pattern can be automatically associated with Adidas. The specific design, placement, and overall impression created by the stripes are key factors in determining whether there is a risk of confusion.

Nike's victory is a blow to Adidas, which has historically been aggressive in defending its trademark. However, the ruling also sends a message that trademark protection cannot be used to restrict competition. 🚫

As the battle for market dominance continues, it remains to be seen whether this decision will have a lasting impact on the sportswear industry. 🏆

Originally published 20 September 2024

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