Court Decision: Nike's Stripes on Sports Pants Violate Adidas' Trademark Laws
A German court has decided that Nike, a popular sports equipment manufacturer, is not allowed to sell a certain sports sock in the country because of its resemblance to Adidas' three-stripe design. This was determined in an appeal hearing at the court in Dusseldorf.
Despite Adidas' objection to four other types of socks, the court dismissed the trademark infringement lawsuit regarding these socks, as they were seen to have enough differences from Adidas' design. The court stated, "Not all side stripe patterns on sports socks are prohibited." This decision is legally binding.
Both companies were involved in a trademark dispute over these socks in 2022, with Adidas accusing Nike of infringing on its trademark. The District Court in Dusseldorf initially ruled against Nike, making it illegal for them to offer these socks in Germany. However, Nike decided to contest the decision, leading to an appeal in which the ruling was upheld.
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The verdict in favor of Adidas reinforces their trademark rights over the iconic three-stripe design, which Nike's sports pants may inadvertently infringe upon, initiating the need for an appeal procedure. Despite the similarities, the court recognized distinct features in Nike's design, ruling that not all stripe patterns on sports socks are prohibited.
Source: www.ntv.de
