When it comes to chocolate, Lindt is one of the top chocolatiers in the game today. The company prides itself on making delicious chocolate year-round but one of its most famous creations has now been taken to court.
In Switzerland, Lindt’s chocolate bunny had a visit to the hot seat but it didn’t melt under the pressure. It was up against the German supermarket, Lidl, who also created a similar chocolate bunny to distribute around Easter.
The court sided with Lindt, who crafted the original Lindt gold chocolate bunny in 1952. As ordered, Lidl must now melt down its entire stock of chocolate bunnies after losing the court battle.
The Swiss firm argued its gold-wrapped Easter rabbit deserved copyright protection from a similar product sold by the budget supermarket. Switzerland’s highest court agreed and overturned a ruling from 2021 by the country’s commercial court that had sided with the German company instead.
Despite the bunnies needing to be destroyed, the court suggested Lidl use the chocolate for other products instead of completely wasting the treats. “Destruction is proportionate, especially as it does not necessarily mean that the chocolate as such would have to be destroyed,” the court’s verdict read.
Lidl will have to think of a new Easter treat for next year’s holiday season. Thankfully, they do have a bit of time before Easter rolls back around.