In their verdict, which brought the trial that started last week to a close, the jury determined that the Thom Browne’s use of parallel lines in his designs did not violate Adidas’ three-stripe trademark or cause consumer confusion.
Adidas filed a lawsuit against Thom Browne in 2021, claiming that the brand’s use of a four-stripe pattern infringed on its 1949-registered three-stripe logo trademark.
As a luxury fashion label, Thom Browne maintained that consumers wouldn’t confuse its upscale clothing with Adidas’ more widely available selection. Additionally, the company asserted that it has been using the four-stripe design since 2007 and that Adidas ought to have filed a lawsuit sooner. The company is owned by the Italian fashion business Zegna.
A spokeswoman for Thom Browne said in a statement, “We are glad that the jury ruled that at no point did Thom Browne, Inc. infringe on any of Adidas’ trademarks. Thom Browne has been a leader in high-end fashion for more than 20 years, providing a fully original and distinctive design aesthetic that combines traditional tailoring with American sportswear sensibility.
Adidas had asked for $8 million in compensation. “We are dissatisfied with the ruling and will continue to vigilently enforce our intellectual property, including filing any necessary appeals,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.
