Three stripes and you are out

Not that it really needs to be repeated....but trade-marks really have value. Just ask Payless shoes.

A jury in Oregon recently ordered Payless shoes to pay Adidas (my favourite brand) over 300 million in damages for trade-mark violations involving the distinctive three stripes in the Adidas logo. Payless had created shoes with three stripes that looked, well, a bit too much like those Adidas has made famous.

Not every brand reaches the stage where it is worth that kind of money but on the other hand, one never knows at the outset how powerful a mark will be. Protect them early and often! Marks are valuable. Just ask Coke.