Swiss Court rules copycat chocolate bunnies

Switzerland s highest court ruled on Thursday that Lindt Spruengli s foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies deserve protection from copycat products, and ordered German discounter Lidl to stop selling a similar product in Switzerland and to destroy its remaining stock.

The Federal Court said that the two products were likely to be confused even though there were some differences between them, despite the fact that Lindt s Easter bunny was well known to the public.

It overturned a Swiss commercial court ruling against Lindt and in favor of two Swiss units of Lidl last year, and ordered Lidl to destroy its stock of chocolate bunnies.

It said in a summary of its verdict that the destruction of chocolate is proportionate, because it does not necessarily mean that the chocolate would have to be destroyed.

Swiss premium chocolate maker Lindt has fought numerous court battles over the years to protect its chocolate Easter bunny, one of the company's best-selling products since it was granted trademark status by the EU in 2000.