Domestic Violence Charity Slaps Adidas With Missy Elliot Lawsuit  3/20/06

US domestic violence charity Break the Cycle launched a $10 million lawsuit on Thursday (16MAR06), accusing Adidas-Salomon AG of illegally using its name and logo on a sportswear range designed by Missy Elliot.

The lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court, New York City, alleges the clothing giant used the charity's trademarks on more than 40 items in Elliot's "Respect Me" line without proper authorization.

The court papers claim the rapper - who was once a spokesperson for Break The Cycle - launched her collection in 2004 with an understanding that a percentage of its profits going to the non-profit organization, reports AllHipHop.

The Respect ME range had to be withdrawn from sale in Denmark last year (FEB05), after the country's monarch Queen Margrethe II threatened to launch legal action over similarities between Elliot's logo and her royal monogram.