Lindt and Spruengli have roots and origins dating back to 1845. It was all started by David Sprungli-Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprungli-Ammann, who owned a small confectionery shop in the old town of Zurich, Switzerland, where major factories originated and robustly sprung up.

The legendary Lindt bunny, along with its golden foil and signature bell hanging around its neck, is readily recognizable to lots of children all over the world. But the company that has been mass-producing them has not been given any EU permit since it has been ruled that the bunny is not a distinctive character, said the European Court.

This decision, which has been made after a long-running legal battle by Lindt and Spruengli, has been welcomed by rival manufacturers and sellers, but none of them have been any happier than Aldi. The small supermarket has been constantly bashing Lindt's expensive bunny for several months now.

The ruling said in the initial finding, made in the year 2010, that the EU General court had been examining the shape of the rabbit, the golden foil, and the pleated red ribbon to which the signature bell has been attached.

It was stated that the "total combination of the shape, alongside the colors and the ribbon which included a small bell do not amount to a sufficient difference" from the wrappings of any major chocolate brands. 

In a lighter note, Lindt was able to successfully breakthrough to the Austrian court to demand the stoppage of the rival chocolate-maker Hauswirth that is known to manufacture Easter bunnies that similarly copies the Lindt product.

But the European Court of Justice gave its judgement on Thursday and has decided that the Swiss chocolate company wasn't able to establish a certain degree of mark that can be associated with a distinct character. That was the resounding vote throughout the European Union, although it has been pointed by the Lindt spokesman that they have been the leading brand for 20 years, hence they want to protect their name as well as their products.

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Joanna Maligaya

Staff Writer/Content Developer at Chocolate University Online

Ever since she can remember, Joanna has always considered chocolate as the ultimate food for her soul. She believes in the saying, “9 out of 10 people love chocolate, and the 10th always lies.”

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