Designer Thom Browne Wins Legal Battle Against Adidas Over Stripes

In a court spat with sportswear behemoth Adidas over the use of distinctive stripes on high-end athletic apparel and accessories, fashion designer Thom Browne prevailed. Adidas had accused Browne of utilizing striped patterns that were too similar to the brand’s signature three stripes, but a jury in a federal court in Manhattan found in favor of Browne.

Browne, who is renowned for his dramatic runway performances, started selling clothes in 2001 and has since achieved great success as a fashion designer. More than 300 sites throughout the world currently exhibit Browne’s business. Adidas said in a statement that they will “vigilantly enforce our intellectual property, including filing any required appeals,” suggesting that their battle may not yet be done.

Rick Pitino Louisville

Former Louisville coach Rick Pitino filed a lawsuit against Adidas on Tuesday, one day after the apparel company terminated its personal services contract with him. Pitino was officially fired by Louisville on Monday in the wake of an FBI investigation into fraud and corruption in college basketball. Continue reading “Ex-Louisville coach Pitino files lawsuit against Adidas”

Pitino fired

PRESS BOX: Louisville places two assistants on leave

Louisville placed two assistant coaches on leave Friday amid the FBI probe into corruption in college basketball as the university continued its investigation into NCAA violations involving paying a recruit. The suspensions leave the program with only acting head coach David Padgett to lead the Cardinals as practice for the 2017-18 season begins. The university announced… Continue reading “Louisville places two assistants on leave”

Rick Pitino Louisville

Suspended Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino received 98 percent of the money from the university’s current contract with Adidas, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported Thursday. According to the newspaper, Pitino got $1.5 million of the money as part of his personal services agreement with the shoe and apparel firm, with the school getting only $25,000. The prior… Continue reading “Report: Pitino received 98 percent of Louisville’s Adidas money”

NCAA basketball

Four top US university basketball coaches and an Adidas executive were charged with corruption and fraud Tuesday in a sprawling scandal over player recruitment payoffs and athletic gear sponsorship bribes. Federal justice officials in New York unveiled felony charges against a total of 10 people in the case that lays bare the seedy underside of the… Continue reading “Four basketball coaches, Adidas executive charged in college payoff scandal”

Adidas has decided not renew it’s contract with the National Basketball League according to a new report from the NY Times:

According to a person familiar with the situation, the league informed Adidas last week that it was going to open up the bidding to other companies, and the N.B.A. is expected to announce a new partner by mid-April. The current deal ends after the 2016-17 season.

Adidas has been trying to crack into the basketball market for several years now and this leaves them without a major sports league contract. This also will allow for Under Armour to finally make a bid for the NBA and it’s massive shoe market.

This also could impact the grassroots money that Adidas has spread around for quite some time, but that isn’t yet clear.