‘Disappointed’ Tesco to change Clubcard logo after losing legal battle against Lidl
Tesco has been left “disappointed” after losing a court appeal regarding its Clubcard logo.
Lidl had accused its rival of trying to “deliberately to ride on the coattails of Lidl’s reputation” by using a yellow circle to promote its Clubcard scheme.
Last year Lidl won its High Court claims of trademark infringement, “passing off” and copyright infringement.
Tesco denied the infringement and took the case to the Court of Appeal last month, arguing there was “no basis” for the High Court judge’s decision.
But in a ruling earlier today, Lord Justice Arnold dismissed the UK’s largest supermarket chain’s bid to overturn the claims of trademark infringement and “passing off”.
Lord Justice Arnold, sitting with Lord Justice Birss and Lord Justice Lewison, said the High Court judge found the yellow circle with a red outline on a blue background “had become distinctive of Lidl” and that the Clubcard prices signs would bring the Lidl logo “to mind”.
He added: “Tesco could easily have used a different sign to promote Clubcard prices. There is no error of law or principle in that reasoning, and the conclusion is one that the judge was fully entitled to reach.”
A Lidl spokesperson said: “Last year, The High Court ruled that Tesco’s Clubcard logo was copied from ours and infringed our trademark rights, allowing them to unfairly benefit from our longstanding reputation for value while misleading its customers.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Tesco joins Sainsbury’s in tech meltdown as home deliveries CANCELLED sparking rage from furious customersTesco worker ‘spat at’ and ‘racially abused’ by thug after trying to steal from storeTesco Clubcard customers have days left as £18millon worth of vouchers ‘to expire’
The spokesperson continued: “We are delighted to see that the Court of Appeal has now agreed with the High Court that Tesco’s use of its Clubcard logo is unlawful.
“We expect Tesco now to respect the court’s decision and change its Clubcard logo to one that is not designed to look like ours.”
A Tesco spokesperson said: “Our customers always tell us just how important Clubcard Prices are to giving them great value – and it’s been a key reason why we’re consistently the cheapest full-line grocer.
“We are disappointed with the judgment relating to the colour and shape of the Clubcard Prices logo but would like to reassure customers that it will in no way impact our Clubcard Prices programme.
“Clubcard Prices, irrespective of its logo, will continue to play a central role in rewarding our Clubcard members with thousands of deals every week.”
Tesco did secure a partial victory today however, with Lord Justice Arnold overturning the previous finding of copyright infringement against Tesco.
He said: “Any painter will confirm that placing one colour against another changes the viewer’s perception of both.
“So too does placing one shape within another… Although Tesco have copied the visual concept of a blue square surrounding, among other material, a yellow circle, that is all they have done.”
Tesco is not expected to attempt to appeal against today’s ruling and is understood to be updating its Clubcard prices logo in the coming weeks.