Adidas has had a quick change of heart. The German shoe and apparel maker is withdrawing its challenge to a Black Lives Matter trademark application less than two days after it raised issue with the U.S. Trademark Office. "Adidas will withdraw its opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's trademark application as soon as possible," a spokesperson said according to news reports.
The German sportswear company had challenged the advocacy group’s bid to trademark its logo, saying the three-stripe design was too similar to its own.
Adidas is withdrawing its challenge to a Black Lives Matter trademark application featuring three parallel stripes, two days after it contested the image with the U.S. Trademark Office. Adidas submitted a notice of opposition with the office Monday, saying in the filing that it took issue with Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's application to trademark the use of three parallel yellow stripes on various items such as clothing and bags. The company said that it felt that if Black Lives Matter was allowed to use the stripes, it would be “confusingly similar” to its usage of a three-stripe mark, something it had been using on its own merchandise since at least 1952.