What: Thom Browne has successfully defended against Adidas in two recent court rulings regarding the use of stripe designs on his apparel, reinforcing his brand's design autonomy.

Why it is important: This legal victory is significant as it highlights the complexities of trademark disputes and their potential to shape branding and product design strategies in the highly competitive apparel market.

Thom Browne achieved two significant legal victories in his ongoing battle with Adidas over the use of striped designs on clothing. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a jury verdict from January 2023, confirming that Browne’s use of four stripes and a grosgrain ribbon on his garments does not infringe on Adidas’s trademark of three stripes. This decision came after Adidas's failed attempt to secure a new trial based on the exclusion of certain testimonies and other arguments, which the court dismissed as meritless. Additionally, Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York denied Adidas’s request for a retrial despite new evidence from emails suggesting potential confusion between the two brands’ stripe designs.

These emails had surfaced from another trademark dispute in the U.K. and pertained to unrelated international product designs. This series of court rulings not only bolsters Thom Browne's position in the fashion industry but also emphasizes the stringent standards and thorough consideration involved in trademark disputes, particularly when well-known designs and significant financial stakes are involved.

Thom Browne Wins Two More Rounds in Court Battle With Adidas on the Use of Stripes