Adidas Loses Coutroom Battle

Sportswear giant Adidas has lost a courtroom battle over a perceived infringement of its trademark three-stripe logo. Adidas lodged a complaint against the American luxury fashion brand Thom Browne, which uses a four-stripe logo on its clothes. Adidas claimed the four stripes were too similar to its three stripes and filed a lawsuit. It attempted to claim more than $7.8 million in damages. However, a jury in a Manhattan court decided in Thom Browne's favour. It declared that the four 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 dispute with Adidas dates back 16 years. Browne used a three-stripe design on a jacket in 2007. After Adidas protested, Browne switched to a four-stripe pattern. Thom Browne maintained that confusion between the two designs was unlikely because the two companies "operate in different markets, serve different customers, and offer their products at strikingly different prices".


1. SPORTSWEAR: Students A strongly believe Adidas is the best sportswear company; Students B strongly believe otherwise. What makes a sportswear company so great ?
2. COMPANIES: How important are these things to a company? Why? Give examples? Complete this table .

 

How Important?

Why?

Examples

Logo

 

 

 

Good CEO

 

 

 

A tune

 

 

 

A mascot

 

 

 

Cheap prices

 

 

 

Loyalty card

 

 

 

3.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.

giant

a.

A group of people (usually twelve in number) who sit and hear a legal case and come to a conclusion of innocence or guilt.

      2.

perceived

b.

The action of breaking the terms of a law, agreement, etc.; violation.

      3.

infringement

c.

Interpreted or regarded someone or something in a particular way.

      4.

lodged

d.

Recognizing or pointing out a difference.

      5.

jury

e.

A very large company or organization.

      6.

reputation

f.

Presented a complaint, appeal, claim, etc. formally to a court.

      7.

distinguishing

g.

The beliefs or opinions that are held about the public image of someone or something.

    Paragraph 2

      8.

founded

h.

Clothing.

      9.

cater

i.

Uncertainty about what is happening, intended, or required.

      10.

collaborated

j.

Stated something strongly to be the case; asserted.

      11.

apparel

k.

Provide with what is needed or required.

      12.

maintained

l.

In a way that attracts attention by reason of being unusual or extreme.

      13.

confusion

m.

Established or started a business, institution or organization.

      14.

strikingly

n.

Worked jointly on an activity or project.

 

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. trademark
  2. complaint
  3. claimed
  4. infringe
  5. confuse
  6. founded
  7. collaborated
  8. switched
  9. maintained
  10. strikingly
  1. confound
  2. contravene
  3. changed
  4. protest
  5. established
  6. noticeably
  7. applied for
  8. asserted
  9. logo
  10. teamed up


5.Role play

Role  A – Adidas
You think Adidas' logo is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their logos. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Amazon, Apple or McDonald's.

Role  B – Amazon
You think the Amazon's logo is is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their logos. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Adidas, Apple or McDonald's.

Role  C – Apple
You think Apple's logo is is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their logos. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Amazon, Adidas or McDonald's.

Role  D – McDonald's
You think the McDonald's logo is is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their logos. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Amazon, Apple or Adidas.

  • Nike
  • Ferrari
  • Coca Cola
  • Starbucks


6.Discussion - Company Logos

  1. What do you know about Adidas?
  2. What do you think of logos and trademarks?
  3. What do you think of Adidas' three stripes?
  4. Is four stripes an infringement of Adidas' three stripes?
  5. What are your favourite fashion brands?
  6. How important are logos?
  7. What sportswear products do you wear?
  8. What advice do you have for Adidas?
  1. What do you think of Adidas?
  2. What are your favourite logos?
  3. What do you think of luxury fashion?
  4. Why did Joe Biden have a fashion collection?
  5. Do you 'believe in better'?
  6. Do people spend too much money on fashion?
  7. What questions would you like to ask Adidas?

7.Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. a evrdipece infringement of its trademark
  2. Adidas lodged a aimcolptn
  3. filed a isuawtl
  4. infringe on Adidas' logo or puitatnero
  5. they were capable of ghgdiuntnsisii
  6. four aallerlp stripes

Paragraph 2

  1. It seract to the high-end fashion market
  2. drclaotobael with many top names
  3. in the world of luxury leappar
  4. The idupets with Adidas dates back 16 years
  5. isfnucono between the two designs
  6. at giilyskrtn different prices

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