Adidas Files Lawsuit In Canada Against Payless

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Adidas AG and Adidas Canada Limited said Thursday that they have filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Canada against Payless ShoeSource over trademark infringement.

The suit claims that shoes sold by Payless infringe on the company's three-stripes logo.

Adidas filed a similar lawsuit in the United States that was litigated for seven years and went to trial, resulting in a $304 million award to Adidas last May. The award was later cut to $65.3 million and the case is under appeal.

Payless is owned by Collective Brands Inc.

"We do not believe this lawsuit is material to our company," said Mardi Larson, spokesperson for Collective Brands, Inc.

Shares of Collective fell 22 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $10.50 in after-hours trading following the announcement. In the regular session, the stock advanced 93 cents to close at $10.72 as part of a broader market rally.