Three yellow stripes in the logo of a central foundation of the US movement Black Lives Matter cause a trademark dispute with Adidas. The sporting goods group initially filed an application with the American Patent and Trademark Office on Monday against the use of the stripe design on clothing, bags and websites, among other things.

Adidas then rowed back again. "We are already in the process of withdrawing the opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's trademark application," said a company spokeswoman in Herzogenaurach on Wednesday.

Black Lives Matter is a loosely organized movement that has grown in strength in recent years, particularly after cases of brutal police violence against black Americans. The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation was founded in 2013 by the originators of the movement and is considered influential among activists. She had registered her trademark design with three stripes in November 2020, according to the documents.