[Dado Ruvic/Illustration for Reuters]
Adidas had requested dismissal of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation’s (BLMGNF) recent application to trademark the three-stripe logo on Monday, but the company has already withdrawn that request. Today, Reuters was the first to break the news of the withdrawal.
“Adidas will withdraw its opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation’s trademark application as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement to Reuters.
Since 1952, Adidas has been using its now-famous Three-Stripes logo, which has been seen on a variety of apparel, footwear, and accessory goods. In November 2020, BLMGNF submitted a trademark application that would have given them the right to include a yellow three-stripe design on a variety of products, including clothing, bags, bracelets, mugs, and more. On Monday, Adidas made an effort to prevent BLMGNF from trademarking the logo, claiming that the design would lead to confusion with its own recognizable Three-Stripes emblem.
A close source at Adidas told Reuters that the business decided to drop its lawsuit to oppose BLMGNF’s trademark application because it was worried that people may take “Adidas’ trademark objection as criticism of Black Lives Matter’s mission.”
After the murderer of Trayvon Martin was declared not guilty in 2013, three female activists started the organization BLMGNF. According to its website, its mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.”
Adidas has not publicly commented on its choice to withdraw its application in response to BLMGNF’s trademark filing as of the time of publishing. An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by the sportswear firm.