adidas Sues Rival, Claims It Stole Design

Three stripes means a lot to adidas. The sneaker giant, which has a major presence in Portland, went to federal court this week, filing a civil suit against rival, Bally Americas.

adidas charges that "despite Bally’s knowledge of adidas’s rights in the famous Three-Stripe Mark, Bally currently is offering for sale and selling footwear featuring two and/or three parallel stripes on the side of the shoe."

The company included photos (above) of six shoes offered by Bally that it says infringes on its trademark.

adidas says by doing so, Bally's is showing "a blanant disregard of adidas's rights."

In the suit, the company lists many of the ways the three stripes is identified with the company, most notably through its sponsorship of athletes such as Aaron Rodgers, Tim Duncan and Sergio Garcia and musicians such as Katy Perry and Kanye West.

adidas wants Bally's stopped from continuing to sell the offending shoes, saying that allowing it to keep selling them is damaging adidas.

Bally Americas has not yet responded to the charges.

Photo from court filing by adidas