Steve Madden Sues Adidas Over Stripe Trademark Dispute

Steve Madden (NASDAQ:SHOO) has filed a lawsuit against Adidas (OTC:ADDYY), accusing the German sportswear giant of unfairly targeting its fashion sneakers featuring two non-parallel bands. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the complaint challenges Adidas’ long-standing trademark enforcement of its iconic three-stripe design.

Steve Madden claims Adidas is attempting to monopolize the use of stripe patterns on footwear, despite clear design differences. The lawsuit specifically defends two new sneaker models—Viento, with two angled bands, and Janos, featuring bands resembling the letter “K.” Adidas’ legal team allegedly demanded that Madden halt sales of Viento, citing potential consumer confusion, and hinted at a formal trademark challenge against Janos.

Madden argues that Adidas is overreaching, stating, “Adidas does not own all stripes,” and highlighting the common use of band designs in the fashion industry. The company seeks a declaratory judgment that its designs do not infringe Adidas’ trademarks, allowing continued sales of the disputed models.

This legal battle revives a longstanding rivalry between the two brands. In 2002, Adidas sued Steve Madden over designs with two and four parallel stripes, leading to a confidential settlement. However, the current dispute is unrelated to that agreement.

Adidas, known for aggressively protecting its three-stripe mark—much like rival Nike (NYSE:NKE) with its intellectual property—has yet to comment on the matter.

The case is Steven Madden Ltd v Adidas AG et al, No. 25-02847, and may once again test the boundaries of trademark protection in the fashion and footwear industries.

This legal showdown could influence how brands interpret design rights in a competitive market filled with stripe-heavy sneaker styles.