Lidl banned from selling copycat Birkenstock sandals, Dutch court rules
A Dutch court has ruled that Lidl must stop selling copycat versions of Birkenstock sandals in the Netherlands, imposing a daily fine and requiring compensation and sales data. Birkenstock views this as a victory against "free-riding" on its designs, though it has faced mixed rulings in other European courts regarding copyright for its products.
Why it matters
This ruling reinforces intellectual property rights for design-led products in the EU, potentially impacting how discount retailers approach product imitation and setting precedents for brand protection across various industries.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lidl must stop selling Birkenstock copies, including sandals based on the "Arizona" worn here by actor Jason Mamoa
Lidl must stop selling copycat versions of Birkenstock's famous sandals in the Netherlands, a Dutch court has ruled.
The discount supermarket chain faces a fine of €5,000 (£4,200) per day if it fails to comply and must also hand over sales data to Birkenstock, according to the ruling.
Lidl must also compensate Birkenstock and pay its legal fees, with the amount to be decided in separate court decisions.
Birkenstock said the judgement sent a clear message that "copycats must not be allowed to free-ride on [our] creativity and innovation". The BBC has contacted Lidl for comment.
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