Adidas sues White Fox in Australia over stripe design

Sportswear manufacturer Adidas filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Australia against Australian online fashion brand White Fox Boutique. According to CNN affiliate 7News, the claim was filed on September 18, 2026. Adidas alleges that White Fox sells and promotes clothing with a four-stripe design that is deceptively similar to its own three-stripe trademark.

Adidas stated it made repeated requests throughout 2026 for Sydney-based White Fox to cease sales of the items, all of which were rejected. White Fox was launched in 2013 and has over 2.7 million followers on Instagram. Speaking in a Sydney court on Friday, October 9, 2026, Adidas lawyer Patrick Flynn said White Fox has placed four stripes on its products for months and challenged promotional campaigns pairing White Fox apparel with genuine Adidas sneakers.

Flynn showed the court an influencer campaign image combining the products and argued there is an intention to trade on Adidas' reputation. Adidas is seeking compensation for alleged trademark infringement and consumer association. White Fox lawyer Ed Heerey denied the claims, noting that other fast-fashion brands such as Princess Polly, Glassons, and Shein also use a four-stripe look. Heerey emphasized in court that the Adidas slogan specifically highlights the three stripes.

Australian government records show Adidas has held a registered trademark for its three stripes in Australia since 1957. In 2013, Adidas successfully sued Australian apparel company Pacific Brands over four-stripe sneakers. Judge Ian Jackman scheduled a hearing for the dispute in early 2027.