Adidas AG, the second largest sporting goods firm in the world, initiated legal proceedings against Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world number-one retailer. Adidas claims Wal-Mart is selling knockoff two-and four striped sneakers similar to the brands trademarked three stripes.This is the latest of numerous copyright battles to defend the legendary three-stripe design, which Adidas began using in 1952 and trademarked in 1994. The German sportswear giant recently won a similar case against shoe retailer Payless Shoesource after Payless began selling shoes with parallel stripes. Adidas was awarded $304.6 million in damages. (more…)

Outstanding street wear brand adidas Originals is proud to announce a unique tri-collaboration project for the fall/winter season 2008. It will launch two sneakers to coincide with the global release of the Hellboy II ‘The Golden Army’ movie in August 2008. The collaboration brings together adidas Originals, Universal Studios & Guillermo Del Toro, the film’s director, and Dark Horse Comics & Mike Mignola, the original comic book artist of Hellboy. Together, this tri-project has produced two outstanding sneakers: the Forum c and the Stan Mid-Hellboy.
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The National Basketball Association and adidas today announced the six European host cities for the adidas NBA 5IVE Tour 2008, a grassroots event combining outdoor 5-on-5 tournaments with pick-up games and interactive basketball elements. The event tips off in Berlin, Germany, July 12-13, before traveling to Moscow, Russia, July 26-27; Istanbul, Turkey, August 30-31; Rome, Italy, September 6-7, Paris, France, September 13-14 and culminating in Madrid, Spain, September 20-21 or 27-28.“Together adidas and the NBA have created a grassroots event that succeeds in embodying everything great about the game of basketball.” Frank Denglos, Vice President of Sports Performance for adidas Region Europe/Middle East/Africa continued, “5-on-5, grassroots basketball is about the team, the bond, the Brotherhood that is created on the court. This ideal is at the heart of adidas Basketball, and also at the very heart of the adidas NBA 5IVE Tour.” (more…)

Introducing Craftsmanship and Techrave, expanding the Denim by Diesel line- continues to celebrate originality and stays true to its characteristics: a collection featuring authentic and creatively unique themes for the lifestyle market. The line reflects how the Trefoil’s essence inspires individuality while embodying the spirit of adidas’ past and present. Introducing two new themes, Craftsmanship and Techrave, the
collection at the same time represents a further development of successful concepts
such as adidas Grün, Tournament and Respect M.E. (more…)

The profit of footwear apparel adidas increased over the first quarter of 2008 with 32% to €196 million, which is higher then expected. During the first quarter of 2008, adidas’ sales increased with 10%, however the revenues in the Reebok segment declined due to the negative currency impact. On a whole the Group’s revenues grew 3% in euro to € 2.621 billion in the first quarter of 2008 from € 2.538 billion in 2007.
The adidas and Taylor Made-adidas Golf segments set the pace for the Group’s sales growth in the first quarter of 2008. Currency-neutral adidas segment revenues increased 14% during the first three months, driven by strong performance product sales in nearly all major categories. Currency-neutral sales in the Reebok segment declined 6% in the first quarter of 2008, mainly as a result of Reebok’s repositioning efforts in the USA and the UK. (more…)

The unique partnership between hip hop icon Missy Elliott and adidas Originals continues with the worldwide launch of the Respect M.E. talent competition starting in March 2008 exclusively on the www.adidas.com/Missy micro site. With Stand up. Be seen the line presents an outstanding force for social good aiming to recruit 10 female ambassadors for Missy and the urban streetwear brand all embraced by the values of respect. Selected finalists announced in June will celebrate their originality while appearing in the Fall/Winter 2008 campaign of the Respect M.E. collection including its characteristic Bass Line and Rhythm Line. In September, Missy will select out of those 10 urban girls only five to be the exclusive ongoing faces of the Respect M.E. range starting with the Spring/Summer 2009 season. (more…)