Frankfurt: Sportswear manufacturer Adidas said it is retracting its opposition to the Black Lives Matter trademark. Initially, the German company claimed that BLM's three-stripe logo design is too similar to its own logo.
On Monday, Adidas had requested the US Trademark Office that it reject the BLM's bid for the design to be used on clothing, bags, and elsewhere. Today, a spokesperson for the company said Adidas is "already in the process of withdrawing opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's trademark application, reported AFP.
The reason for the move was not revealed. Some speculate that the objection over the trademark could be misinterpreted as Adidas criticising the goals of the anti-racism movement.
According to the US Trademark Office, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation filed the trademark request in September 2021. The decentralised movement started a decade ago as an effort to fight racism but gained traction in 2020 after the murder of George Flyod. The movement particularly focuses on police brutality.