A German maker of sneakers, apparel and accessories has petitioned the United States Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the Black Lives Matter trademark. Reuters quotes the company’s press service on the move.
The firm argues that the two marks are visually similar. Adidas has used its signature three-stripe design on products worldwide since 1952, a longstanding branding element that the company says is widely recognized by consumers.
According to the document, people who are familiar with Adidas products—long associated with the three-stripe motif—could reasonably conclude that the offerings of the applicant (the BLM movement) are connected to Adidas, endorsed by the brand, or otherwise linked to it.
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation seeks to register three yellow lines as a logo and intends to place the mark on sportswear.
Earlier in the year, ABC News reported on the shooting incident involving a Black American man linked to a BML movement co-founder. He was hospitalized after an encounter with a police officer and later died from complications related to the incident.