Scalpers wins court battle against Adidas

A Spanish court has ruled in favour of Spanish fashion brand Scalpers. The Seville-based brand, sued by Adidas for selling white trainers which allegedly ripped off its Stan Smith style, has won the legal action, FashionNetwork.com understands.

Adidas filed a lawsuit against the fashion brand about two years ago, claiming the trainers looked too similar to its Stan Smith shoe. The company was seeking an injunction to prevent Scalpers from selling the allegedly infringing shoes and compensation for unspecified damages.

But the Commercial Court 8 of Madrid ruled on 20 December 2018 that Scalpers’ vintage-looking shoes were not an “unfair limitation” of Adidas’ famous Stan Smith.

A judge argued that the German brand’s iconic style does not have “competitive uniqueness”, as there are numerous similar-looking shoes on the market.

Although Adidas’ lawsuit has been dismissed, the court battle will continue, with Adidas set to appeal the decision. According to sources familiar with the matter, the ruling has no financial implications for Adidas, and an appeal could take up to two years.

Scalpers, led by Alfonso Vivancos and Borja Vazquez, has expanded its product offering and portfolio through a series of acquisitions over the past few months. In February, the company bought a minority stake in Mim Shoes, a fashion startup, and in October, Scalpers acquired a majority stake in designer Jorge Vazquez’s company. Additionally, the group has invested in Victoria, the namesake label of Spanish fashion designer and celebrity Vicky Martin Berrocal.

In 2017, Scalpers saw revenues rise to 42.5 million euros, and sales are expected to rise by 50% to 64 million euros in 2018. Founded in 2007, the brand has over 500 employees and more than 190 standalone stores in 11 countries, including the UK, Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Qatar.

Scalpers wins court battle against Adidas

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