Blake Hall
The interlocked ‘U’ and ‘A’ of the Under Armour logo has long served as the bat signal for the biggest beefcakes and most successful athletes in the United States. Thanks to Under Armour’s high quality tactical gear and military-exclusive discounts, many veterans and active duty troops also wear that symbol with pride.
But be wary. An imposter with a near identical logo is hitting the market.
Chinese company Tingfei Long Sporting Goods Co. revealed that it would ride Under Armour’s coattails to endless profit by launching a knockoff brand that sounds like a rejected Looney Tunes character: Uncle Martian.
As you can see from the logo comparison above, Tingfei isn’t trying very hard to hide that is it is an Under Armour knockoff. By separating the two letters and adding a slight dip in the ‘A,’ the symbol we all know and love is transformed into the uncanny initials of Uncle Martian.
The products, too, are unmistakable reflections of their American counterparts.
From a copyright perspective, there isn’t much Under Armour can do. China does have copyright laws on the books, but they are tough to enforce. In addition, Under Armour is a popular brand among the wealthiest Chinese citizens. Since opening its first store in 2010, Under Armour has opened 75 locations through the country. Even if Uncle Martian is somehow defeated, it’s likely another brand would target Under Armour under a new cringeworthy name.
Uncle Martian, to our knowledge, doesn’t offer any special offers for American military members, veterans or their families. For that, you’ll have to stick with Under Armour.