The Associated Press says that Adidas's main concern is the similarity of the Polo jackets to its own range of jackets with three stripes on the sleeves.
According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit alleges that the Ralph Lauren line is "likely to deceive, confuse and mislead actual and prospective purchasers into believing that apparel sold by [Polo Ralph Lauren] is manufactured by, authorised by, or in some manner associated with [Adidas], which it is not".
Adidas has apparently asked that all of the infringing Polo products be recalled and destroyed.
Adidas has not always been successful in preventing others from using stripes on their products. Last year the company lost a case against UK company Fitnessworld Trading Ltd over sportswear that included two parallel stripes on either side seam.
Europe's highest court said that the proprietor of a trade mark with a reputation cannot prevent the use of a similar sign viewed purely as a decorative motif.
But, said the Court, there can be an infringement to a mark with a reputation when the degree of similarity between that mark and the sign has the effect that the public establishes a link between the sign and the mark without necessarily confusing them. The key would appear to be showing that the public has established a link between sign and mark.