Story perspectives

Adidas sues White Fox over four-stripe shoe designs

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 6:01 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Adidas sued Australian label White Fox in Federal Court over four-stripe designs.
Adidas filed the claim on 18 September, saying the four stripes are identical to its three-stripe logo.
Adidas seeks an injunction, damages, interest, costs and repayment of profits from four-stripe items.
White Fox argues the stripes are decorative, citing four-stripe designs by Cotton On, Sportscraft and Princess Polly.
Adidas says ads paired White Fox clothing with genuine Adidas shoes, risking confusion.

History

Historical Context

In 1978 Taco Cabana launched a Mexican-style fast-food chain whose bright patio décor was copied by Two Pesos in 1985. The Supreme Court’s 1992 decision in Two Pesos v. Taco Cabana held that inherently distinctive trade dress needs no secondary meaning, awarding $3.7 million and leading to a $22 million acquisition. Adidas now relies on that precedent in its 2024 suit against White Fox.

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Story summary

Adidas sued Australian label White Fox in Federal Court over four-stripe designs.
Adidas filed the claim on 18 September, saying the four stripes are identical to its three-stripe logo.
Adidas seeks an injunction, damages, interest, costs and repayment of profits from four-stripe items.
White Fox argues the stripes are decorative, citing four-stripe designs by Cotton On, Sportscraft and Princess Polly.
Adidas says ads paired White Fox clothing with genuine Adidas shoes, risking confusion.

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