Nothing has yet been decided for Beijing 2008

The Adidas group can continue to reveal its traditional three bands on the sleeves and the side of the shorts or trousers for sport clothing The question may arise to the extent where more sporting bodies to challenge the right to expose them, through the athletes that brand is sponsoring their events broadcast on television. If the champions are more the three bands, this worth yet to propose to the amateur practitioners Adidas is a victim of multiple actions that brought its competitors, including the largest, Nike. For the latter, the three bands violate most of the national or international federations, and regulations of the organizers of events, which are limited to a few square centimetres granted instead to the logos of equipment suppliers on equipment. Basically, the argument is this: why Nike should put only a small "comma" on the Jersey of Ronaldo in the Brazil team, while Adidas displays its logo on the chest of Zidane, team of France, more three long bands on the sleeves.

Ten centimetres square for logos

For the time being, Fifa, Adidas is partner, let him. This is not the case of the international Olympic Committee (IOC, who, in Turin forced Adidas to replace its three bands, the sports teams that the mark sponsorisait, by interleaving of figures 3) The result of a bitterly negotiated compromise. Nothing has yet been decided for Beijing 2008...

After the IOC, they are the organizers of the four Grand Slam of tennis tournaments (including the French Federation of tennis yet partner of Adidas), grouped in the Committee of the Grand Slam (GSC) which are seized of the question. Is still under pressure - and the threat of prosecution - the competitors of the German firm. On 22, 23 and 24 may, a hearing before the High Court of Justice in London would lead to a temporary decision, before a judgment on the merits in a few months.

Mark or logo

Since 1989, the regulations of the Grand Slam limit four square inches (approximately ten centimeters square) the size of the logo of the jerseys of players. May 10, 2005, the GSC informed Adidas three bands were now to be considered as logos and, therefore, to submit to the size of the latter criteria. Adidas has been given a period of one year (to June 26, 2006, the start of Wimbledon) to comply with this decision. It is this decision that today attacked the OEM, arguing the very short time to change its collections, the discriminatory effect the competition, but also, say some, an abuse of a dominant position on the part of the organizers of the tournament. "It is inappropriate for Adidas to complain of delays." They have been given more than one year of notice. However, Adidas waited the last minute to start the procedure, while it might have done in October 2005. Why have waited so long comments Stéphane Simian, Roland-Garros Sports Director.

"Adidas submits regularly in justice the right marks on the"three band", while it denies that these"three band"be considered as such marks for the purposes of our regulations." Rhadamès Killy "Is a completely contradictory attitude" continues. The legal Director of the French tennis Federation (FFT) points the crux of the problem. The three bands constitute a mark and a logo

In Adidas, it says that "all OEMs are trying to create distinctive elements to differentiate their products with patterns, colors or different designs" and that "none of these elements has been designated as constitutive of the identity of the mark as are the three stripes of Adidas. "The three bands are an integral part of the product," says a press release which adds: "Although a trademark, not a standard logo. The leaders of the group establish a very clear distinction between the three bands and the real logo of the trade mark, namely the Adidas name surmounted by a small triangle of three bands (see illustration). Are they right The fact that they do appear in recent years three simple horizontal bands, alongside their logo on the stage (including Roland-Garros) signs a little blurring their rationale.

BOX .

Adidas deprived of its exclusivity on the France Cup

Another mishap for Adidas. April 3, at the request of Nike, the Council of State annulled the decision of the French football Federation (FFF) introducing article 4 bis of the rules of the cup of France, i.e. the section which requires teams to wear the mark by the Federation, namely Adidas equipment for the competition. Although not met during the recent semi-final on April 20 and April 29 final, this decision will not not be applied by the FFF. It in will be thus finished a very interesting marketing for the German group device because he could play in Adidas television teams usually under contract with other brands. As the MTP, which although sponsored by Nike, has beaten Marseille with splendid swimwear three bands! What, moreover, prompted Nike to threaten the FFF of a claim for damages. "It is not clear from the exhibits in the record that the exclusivity thereby created for the French football Federation is justified by a general interest on the public service mission is delegate (...)" note the Council in its decision. It cannot be more clear. And also no surprise when we know that in his time, the national football league had been sentenced in the same circumstances. In Adidas, it indicates that the cup of France partnership is included in the overall contract binding the mark to the FFF and the FFF is reviewing the response to the decision of justice. There is no doubt that it will be to provide compensation to Adidas.

P.B.