A Dutch court has ruled that Lidl must cease selling copycat versions of Birkenstock sandals across the Netherlands, imposing a daily fine of €5,000 for non‑compliance and requiring the supermarket to hand over sales data to the German brand.
The decision bars Lidl from offering its knock‑off copies of the Arizona, Madrid, Gizeh, Boston and Florida models, citing infringement of the brand’s footbed design trademark. The court also ordered Lidl to compensate Birkenstock and cover its legal fees, with the amounts to be determined in separate proceedings.
Birkenstock welcomed the ruling, stating it sends a clear message that “copycats must not be allowed to free‑ride on [our] creativity and innovation.” The company vowed to continue defending its rights and to use all available legal means to combat future imitations.
This judgment follows a series of recent court decisions protecting Birkenstock’s designs, including a November 2025 ruling that halted similar look‑alikes sold by Scapino and a December 2025 European Court of Justice ruling that everyday commercial products can be protected by copyright when they reflect creative design choices.
The case is still appealable, and further court decisions will determine the compensation amounts. Lidl has not yet commented on the ruling.
