O'Neills using 3 stripes on clothing - should Adidas have any issues with this?

whiskeyman

I noticed on a lot of O'Neills GAA range, they've incorporate 3 stripes in many of their designs, just like Adidas.
I've included a pic - the first has their distinctive 3 stripes on their shorts.

It's also on some of the rugby style polo tops, where 3 stripes (equally spaced and single colour) go across the shoulder, just like adidas garments - I cant find a pic at the mo of an example.

Adidas have legal on the "3 Stripes Device" and I'm wondering is there any issue with the O'Neills gear?
Has this ever been mentioned before?

Not sure if this the right forum - was a choice between this, business or the new advertising/marketing.
Mods - feel free to move if you think right.

Lemlin

I wouldn't imagine having three stripes is something you can patent.

Imposter

Adidas do have it patented but O'Neills have been using 3 stripes on their clothes for decades. Long before the patent was taken out by adidas. O'Neills may be restricted in what they can sell outside of Ireland (with the 3 stripes) but i'm not sure about that.

whiskeyman

Imposter wrote:

Adidas do have it patented but O'Neills have been using 3 stripes on their clothes for decades. Long before the patent was taken out by adidas. O'Neills may be restricted in what they can sell outside of Ireland (with the 3 stripes) but i'm not sure about that.

cheers for the comment imposter.
Thats what I was thinking, and seemed correct as I checked the O'Neills international online shop.
For some reason, they dont have any or the jerseys/tops that feature the 3-stripes design for sale online, but the rest are there.
Would be interested to know if this is an agreement or if O'Neills had no other choice.

Imposter

Afaik (as in this may be wrong) it comes down to patent law. I think patent laws are taken out on a per country basis and O'Neills previous use of the design meant that they cannot be subject to the patent.