In 2015 Adidas first sued LA-based fast fashion retailer Forever 21 for using its trademarked stripes, a lawsuit which was settled in early 2016. At present, Adidas has agreed to an out-of-court settlement in a recent trademark case arising from the brands' long-term disputes concerning Adidas' allegations that Forever21 is wrongfully using the registered "three stripe" mark. But terms of the settlement were not immediately disclosed.
In March of 2017, Adidas America sued Forever 21, as well as a group of its suppliers in Oregon, for using Adidas' registered "three stripe" mark. The complaint alleged trademark infringement and dilution, unfair competition, and deceptive trade practices.
Forever 21 had stated in a court document, that since 2006, Adidas has commenced a pattern of complaining about striped apparel sold by Forever 21, and it has steadfastly increased its threats to encompass virtually any item of clothing with decorative stripes. At that time, Forever 21's legal team went on the offensive and asked a California court for a declaratory judgement saying it could use the stripes in question on "six items of clothing." Less than a month later, Adidas filed the current trademark lawsuit in Oregon.
Adidas actively sues over its trademarks in the US, a strategy intellectual property holders must employ to protect their rights in this country. The brand has already sued Ecco, Marc Jacobs, Skechers and Tesla for infringing on its registered thee stripe mark.
