Reading 1/2:
Read the article and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
ADIDAS LOSES THREE-STRIPE TRADEMARK BATTLE
2345678
German sportswear giant Adidas lost a trademark infringement lawsuit against Thom Browne, claiming the luxury fashion label exploited the brand's famed "three-stripes" logo design without authorization. The three stripes, which first rose to prominence in the 1950s after company founder Adolf Dassler began using it on shoes, now adorns most Adidas products.Adidas filed a lawsuit to ask the jury for over $7.8 million in damages, plus additional punitive damages and a cut of Thom Browne's infringing sales, according to a court filing. It also requested a court order stopping Thom Browne from using the designs. However, a jury in a Manhattan court sided with Browne. It declared that the four horizontal, parallel stripes did not infringe on Adidas' logo or reputation. Jurors decided that consumers were unlikely to confuse the two brands, as they were capable of distinguishing between three and four parallel stripes.Thom Browne is a New York-based fashion house founded in 2001. It caters to the high-end fashion market and has collaborated with many top names in the world of luxury apparel. The brand made a name for itself in 2020 by designing a scarf as part of Joe Biden's "Believe in Better" fashion collection. The conflict dates back to 2007 when Browne used a three-stripe pattern on a jacket. Adidas protested because it was too similar to their own. Browne decided to give it up and switched to a four-stripe pattern. It was in 2008 when the "Four-Bar Signature"
look became available.
Browne has expanded into sportswear and athleisure, launching shell jackets, compression running gear. T-shirts, hoodies and track pants, all featuring four parallel stripes. It has entered a partnership in 2018 with the formerly Adidas-sponsored F.C. Barcelona soccer team and its star athlete at the time, Lionel Messi. It also designed rapper Cardi B's outfit for the 2019 Met Gala, while former professional footballer and Bournemouth manager Scott Parker sported one of its cardigans and a blazer to matches. Thom Browne said confusion between the companies' designs was unlikely because they "operate in different markets, serving different customers, and offer their products at strikingly different price points."Adidas has expressed disappointment with the outcome and plans to continue to protect its intellectual property rights through legal means, including potential appeals. While claims like these often arise in fashion - Adidas in particular has pursued hundreds of matters related to its three-stripe trademark - they are often settled or dismissed before reaching a jury trial.
Next Question
Next Reading
1) Who decided in Thom Browne's favour?
A. A juror in New York.
B. A judge in a Manhattan court.
C. Judges in New York.D. A jury in a Manhattan court.
2) What is TRUE about Thom Browne's current logo?
A. There are four vertical stripes.
B. There are three parallel circles.
C. There are the four parallel stripes.
D. There are three horizontal stripes.
3
) What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A lot of Adidas' employees have been dismissed after the lawsuit.Adidas has ruined its reputation due to the lawsuit.
ABCC Adidas has planned to redesign its logo.
L..
1
