Protecting a Brand | Three Stripes and You're Out. But Four is Fine

There were two winners in this court case - luxury brand Thom Browne Inc, and their lawyers. The loser? Adidas.

The BBC reports here on the result in a costly court case.

Businesses often fight hard to protect their intellectual property, including trademarks and designs.

However, Adidas has lost this court case in which it tried to stop fashion designer Thom Browne Inc from using a four-stripe design.

Adidas had argued that Browne's design was too similar to their own three stripes.

Browne argued that shoppers were unlikely to confuse the two brands as his had a different number of stripes and his designs were aimed at wealthy customers.

Browne's legal team portrayed him as the underdog taking on a huge corporation and argued the two brands served different customers.