Lidl banned from selling copycat Birkenstock sandals, Dutch court rules
Summary
A Dutch court ruled that Lidl must stop selling sandals that copy Birkenstock’s famous designs in the Netherlands. Lidl faces daily fines if it does not comply and must share sales information with Birkenstock, which will also receive compensation and be paid legal fees.Key Facts
- Lidl is banned from selling sandals that imitate Birkenstock’s Arizona, Madrid, Gizeh, Boston, and Florida models in the Netherlands.
- If Lidl disobeys, it will pay a fine of €5,000 (about £4,200) daily.
- Lidl must hand over sales data to Birkenstock and compensate the company, with amounts to be decided later.
- The court found Lidl copied Birkenstock’s trademarked “footbed design.”
- Birkenstock said it will keep defending its designs and take legal action against copycats.
- Previous legal cases involved similar issues: a Dutch ruling stopped another retailer from selling Birkenstock lookalikes, and Europe’s highest court said design choices on products can have copyright.
- Birkenstock lost a case in Germany, where the court said sandals are practical items, not art, so they are less protected.
- Other brands like Dr. Martens and Christian Louboutin also fight copycats in court.
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