Adidas says Black Lives Matter design violates three-stripe trademark

blacklivesmatter.com/

Sportswear maker Adidas on Wednesday reversed course 48 hours after asking the US Trademark Office to reject a Black Lives Matter application for a trademark featuring three parallel stripes.

"Adidas will withdraw its opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's trademark application as soon as possible," the company said in a statement.

A source close to the company said the rapid about-turn was triggered by concern that people could misinterpret Adidas' trademark objection as criticism of Black Lives Matter's mission.

Adidas had told the trademark office in a Monday filing that the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's yellow-stripe design so closely resembles its own famous three-stripe mark that it is "likely to cause confusion".

It sought to block the group's application to use the design on goods that the German sportswear maker also sells, such as shirts, hats and bags.

Adidas is struggling financially after ending its lucrative Yeezy shoe partnership with Kanye West over comments he made on social media and in interviews.

The sportswear firm has also ended its Ivy Park collaboration with Beyoncé according to media reports. Adidas' contract with the pop star is set to expire at the end of this year.

More from Business

  • Tesla warns it could face retaliatory tariffs

    US automaker Tesla has warned that it and other major American exporters are exposed to retaliatory tariffs that could be leveled in response to President Donald Trump's aggressive use of tariffs.

  • UAEFTS processes AED 19.89 trillion in transactions in 2024

    The value of transactions conducted in the banking sector within the country through the UAE Funds Transfer System (UAEFTS) rose to AED 19.898 trillion during 2024, according to the latest statistics from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).

  • DEWA contributes AED 20m to Fathers’ Endowment campaign

    Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced a contribution of AED 20 million to the Fathers' Endowment campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai.

  • DP World reports record $20 bln revenue in 2024

    DP World has announced revenue grew by 9.7 per cent to $20 billion (AED 73.5 billion), and adjusted EBITDA rose by 6.7 per cent to $5.5 billion (AED 20.2 billion), with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 27.2 per cent for the year ending December 31, 2024.

  • UAE cinema industry records AED 800m in revenue in 2024

    The UAE's cinema industry generated AED 800 million in revenue last year, fueled by an increase in audience engagement, the Emirates News Agency said.