- After a Lindt lawsuit, Lidl was forced to destroy its chocolate bunnies.
- The supreme court of Switzerland stated that it was possible for customers to confuse the two items.
- The court suggested that Lidl could melt the chocolate and use it in other products.
Lidl is being ordered to destroy its chocolate bunnies following a Lindt copyright suit.
According to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, Lindt was entitled to protection against copycat products. This includes the Lidl product. Reuters first reported.
Lindt is known for its chocolate bunnies. The company SaysIt produces 150 million red-ribbon, golden rabbits each year which are sold in 50 different countries.
Lidl is a popular supermarket that offers cheaper alternatives to brand-name products. There are approximately 175 Lidl stores in the US and many more across Europe.
Lindt claimed that its bunny is well-known to consumers. He told the court that the product was likely to confuse with the Lidl version, even though there were differences. Since 2001, Lindt has owned a trademark for the shape of its bunny.
The court suggested that the chocolate in Lidl’s bunnies might be melted and used to make other products.
“Destroyment is proportionate, especially since it does not necessarily mean the chocolate as such would need to be destroyed,” the court stated in a summary. The Guardian reported.
Fellow German retailer Aldi got into a similar feud with UK retailer Marks and Spencer over a Cuthbert the Caterpillar chocolate cake that bore a clear resemblance to M&S’s Colin the Caterpillar cake.
Legal action initiated by M&S was In February, settledCuthbert is back on Aldi’s shelves June.
Lindt is also familiar with court cases involving chocolate bunnies. Last July, Germany’s Federal Court ruledLegal protection was provided for the bunnies’ gold tone.
Insider reached out to Lidl for comment but they didn’t respond immediately.
