Lidl ordered to destroy its Lindt-like chocolate bunnies by Swiss court

The federal court in Lausanne has ordered the German discount retailer to stop selling its version of the rabbit-shaped confectionery and to destroy all its remaining stock.

The chocolate maker submitted surveys as part of its case showing that its Gold Bunny was well known to the public, the federal court said, adding that that the Lindt and Lidl rabbits were likely to be confused, even though there were some differences between them.

The company applied for a trademark on the three-dimensional shape of its bunny in 2000, which was granted the following year.

Hauswirth was later ordered by a Vienna court to stop producing its bunnies.