Shouldnt Adidas sue O'Neills?

**Pauro 76** · 13/04/2009, 6:09 PM

Just saw this article, not sure should this be in Off-Topic but anyway..

http://www.footballshirtculture.com/...-sue-nike.html

Pony sueing Nike for ripping off their V shaped logo for an advert... On that basis, shouldnt adidas sue O'Neills for infringement? It's not even subtle... three stripes are all over O'Neill's GAA shirts and they have been for years...

**soccerc** · 13/04/2009, 6:27 PM

Originally Posted by Pauro 76

Just saw this article, not sure should this be in Off-Topic but anyway..

http://www.footballshirtculture.com/...-sue-nike.html

Pony sueing Nike for ripping off their V shaped logo for an advert... On that basis, shouldnt adidas sue O'Neills for infringement? It's not even subtle... three stripes are all over O'Neill's GAA shirts and they have been for years...

You wont believe it

Adidas pay a substantial sum of money to O'Neills annually for a licence to use the three stripes and have done for a long time.

**anto1208** · 13/04/2009, 6:29 PM

I thought adidas bought o'neils recently

**Pauro 76** · 13/04/2009, 7:43 PM

Just did a search. Interesting theories.

http://www.anfearrua.ie/db.asp?a=top...lay&tid=416435

http://www-srv-3.boards.ie/vbulletin...d.php?t=295575

Always thought O'Neills would be sailing close to the wind on the three stripes issue... Weirdly enough they don't seem to use the three stripes in their football ('soccer') kits.

**Den Perry** · 14/04/2009, 9:49 AM

I remember a case in regarding "passing off" whereby adidas sued some other sporting goods company for using the three stripes and "passing off" their goods as adidas. it wasn't O'Neills, as far as I remember. anybody else recall this?

**Tallanted** · 14/04/2009, 9:56 AM

As far as I am aware if you buy a jersey from o'neills online the jersey wont have the 3 stripes on it, theres a specially designed 2 stripe product for over sea customers

**OwlsFan** · 14/04/2009, 10:19 AM

In 1980 Adidas brought an action against O'Neills for passing off in the Irish High Court. Adidas lost the case. The Court held that the stripes were only a fashion design. The judge said "To my personal knowledge for the past 60 years or more boys have worn stockings with a variety of stripes round the tops. Could it ever have been suggested that similarity in the stripes could cause such confusion as to amount to passing off." The Judge held that the stripes were a "mere adoption of a fashionable trend".

Adidas were unable to show any confusion between the respectives uses of the
stripes and thus the respective stripes have co-existed on the Irish market place for around 30 years!

**shedite** · 14/04/2009, 3:42 PM

Thought o'neills had got past this before by claiming they have 5 stripes (as in the 3 adidas and then two different colour ones in the gaps in between). In the Cork jersey for example, they claim there's 3 white stripes and 2 red stripes in between them.