Lidl banned from selling copycat Birkenstock sandals, Dutch court rules

Lidl 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.