Adidas Withdraws Opposition To Black Lives Matter’s Three-Stripe Logo Design
Previously, the Adidas Group was petitioning the United States Trademark Office to reject an application by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement to safeguard its three parallel yellow stripes motif.
Now, in a seemingly abrupt change of heart, the sportswear giant announced it will be withdrawing its request to prevent the use of the three-stripe design “as soon as possible,” though the company did not elaborate on the sudden decision.
Adidas had originally claimed that the similar emblems would “create confusion” and possibly mislead consumers, as the brand has attained “tremendous public attention” worldwide with its instantly recognizable logo.
It felt that customers would be “likely to assume” that goods offered by the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation—the most prominent facet of the greater BLM movement—came from Adidas, or that the products were “affiliated, connected, associated with, or sponsored by.”
JUST IN: Adidas says Black Lives Matter design violates three-stripe trademark. pic.twitter.com/mtLIIC0zUT
— Remarks (@Remarks) March 28, 2023
Reuters pointed out that despite the firm choosing to rescind its opposition, it chose to do so “without prejudice,” which still allows for the brand to challenge the trademark on the same grounds again in the future.
An insider told the publication that Adidas’ swift turnaround was due to concerns that the wider public could misinterpret its trademark claim as criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement in general.
As per the BBC, the Black Lives Matter group first applied for federal protection of its yellow three-stripe design in 2020 and has since used the motif on a variety of products ranging from clothing to bags, bracelets, and even mugs.
After filing to block a trademark filed by @Blklivesmatter that incorporated three stripes in it’s logo, adidas has withdrew it’s opposition due to “concern that people could misinterpret adidas' trademark objection as criticism of Black Lives Matter's mission.” pic.twitter.com/BJAhsqDc68
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) March 29, 2023
[via Reuters and BBC, cover image via Mariakray | Dreamstime.com and Black Lives Matter]
