Adidas sues Australian fashion label White Fox over four stripe design

German sportswear giant Adidas has launched legal action against Sydney-based fashion label White Fox in the Federal Court, according to BBC News and Nine.com.au. BBC News reported that Adidas wants the Australian brand to stop selling and promoting clothing with four stripes, and to pay damages. Adidas stated that it has repeatedly asked White Fox to cease selling the garments since March, but the company refused. [1][2][3]

Lawyers representing White Fox denied any trademark breach during a court hearing on Friday, BBC News reported. Although White Fox has not yet lodged a formal defence, its legal team informed Justice Ian Jackman that the firm plans to argue other Australian brands such as Cotton On, Sportscraft and Glassons sell clothes featuring similar decorative stripes. Fashion Times UK separately reported that Adidas claimed White Fox used its shoes to promote four-stripe clothes before editing out a stripe. [1][4]

Adidas is a German multinational athletic footwear and apparel corporation headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany. The company is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second largest worldwide. [6]

In its written statement of claim, Adidas asserted that its famous three-striped design holds a substantial and valuable reputation, BBC News reported. A trial lasting three to four days is expected to take place early next year. [1]