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Lindt wins chocolate bunny battle in Swiss court
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ZURICH (Reuters) – Lindt & Spruengli’s foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies deserve protection from copycat products, Switzerland’s highest court ruled on Thursday, and ordered German discounter Lidl to stop selling a similar product in Switzerland and to destroy its remaining stock.
ZURICH (Reuters) – Lindt & Spruengli’s foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies deserve protection from copycat products, Switzerland’s highest court ruled on Thursday, and ordered German discounter Lidl to stop selling a similar product in Switzerland and to destroy its remaining stock.
Surveys submitted by Lindt showed Lindt’s Easter bunny was well known to the public, the Federal Court said, adding the two products were likely to be confused even though there were some differences between them.
It overturned a Swiss commercial court’s ruling against Lindt and in favour of two Swiss units of Lidl last year and ordered Lidl to destroy its inventory of chocolate bunnies.
“Destruction is proportionate, especially as it does not necessarily mean that the chocolate as such would have to be destroyed,” it said in a summary of its verdict.
Swiss premium chocolate maker Lindt has fought many court battles over the years to protect one of its best-selling products.
Germany’s federal court ruled last year that the gold tone of its foil-wrapped Easter bunny had trademark protection.
(Reporting by Michael Shields)
Trademark protection is a legal safeguard that prevents others from using a brand's distinctive signs, symbols, or names without permission. It helps maintain brand identity and consumer trust.
A copycat product is an imitation of an original product, often designed to confuse consumers. These products can infringe on trademarks and lead to legal disputes.
A commercial court is a specialized court that deals with disputes arising from commercial transactions and business activities. It focuses on resolving business-related legal issues efficiently.
A foil-wrapped product is an item that is covered in a thin layer of metal foil, often used for packaging food items to preserve freshness and prevent contamination.
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