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ARTICLE · 18 MARCH 2023

Tesco vs Lidl – Going In Circles

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The full trial between Tesco and Lidl started before the High Court in February 2023. With the parties battling over their use of their yellow circle logos, we look at what has happened...

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Apostolos Dakanalis
Apostolos Dakanalis
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The full trial between Tesco and Lidl started before the High Court in February 2023. With the parties battling over their use of their yellow circle logos, we look at what has happened so far, where we are at and what to look forward to.

What happened:

Lidl launched proceedings against Tesco in 2022 alleging trade mark and copyright infringement. The dispute 'circles around' a yellow circle device on a blue background, used by Tesco for its "Clubcard Prices" loyalty discount scheme as well as Lidl's main logo.

Tesco counterclaimed that Lidl's registration for its 'wordless' logo was invalid on the grounds of bad faith and evergreening, claiming that the wordless mark was deployed as a 'legal weapon'. Tesco also claimed that the wordless logo should be revoked as it has never been used in the UK in its registered form – i.e. without the LIDL mark.

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