Adidas has taken legal action against Australian clothing brand White Fox, alleging that the latter’s four-striped designs are ‘deceptively similar’ to its iconic three-stripes.

The dispute centers around the use of stripes in athletic wear, with Adidas claiming that White Fox’s designs are 'substantially identical' and intend to trade off its reputation. Adidas has trademarked its three-stripes in Australia since 1957.

White Fox defends the move, pointing out that other Australian brands such as Cotton On and Sportscraft sell items with similar decorative stripes. However, Adidas argues that White Fox’s advertisements feature genuine Adidas items, which could create an association in consumers’ minds.

The legal battle is part of a broader trend of design disputes in the fashion industry, with Adidas citing New Balance’s legal action over a shoe logo and the latest Washington Commanders logo controversy.

It'll be interesting to see how this unfolds, as the stripes that have long been a symbol of Adidas' identity may now come under legal scrutiny.