Lidl banned from selling copycat Birkenstock sandals, Dutch court rules
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". Martens have repeatedly taken online big-box sellers to court over boot designs, while luxury house Christian Louboutin spent years in global litigation defending its signature red soles against high-street copycats. Related topicsRetailingInternational BusinessFashionLidlCompaniesMore on this storyBirkenstock sandals are not art, says German courtPublished20 February 2025
- ▪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
- ▪Martens have repeatedly taken online big-box sellers to court over boot designs, while luxury house Christian Louboutin spent years in global litigation defending its signature red soles against high-street copycats.
- ▪Related topicsRetailingInternational BusinessFashionLidlCompaniesMore on this storyBirkenstock sandals are not art, says German courtPublished20 February 2025
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| Publication time | Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:25:01 GMT |
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Lidl banned from selling copycat Birkenstock sandals, Dutch court rulesImage source, Getty ImagesByFrancisco VelasquezBusiness reporter, Reporting fromNew YorkPublished9 minutes agoLidl 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 reached out to Lidl for comment.
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