German gummy bear wins battle against Swiss teddy
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's iconic gummy bear has won a sweet legal victory over a foil-wrapped Swiss chocolate teddy.
Cologne's regional court ruled in favor of Germany's Haribo GmbH on Tuesday, saying that Switzerland's Lindt & Spruengli AG had violated its trademark on the "Goldbaer" or "Gold Bear" gummy bear name. It banned the further sale of Lindt's gold-foil wrapped chocolate bear.
The court said even though the Lindt product was officially called the "Lindt Teddy," consumers would naturally refer to it as "Gold Bear" because of its packaging.
The normal Haribo gummy bear package features a cartoon bear wearing a red ribbon around its neck, while the Lindt product features a bear caricature printed on gold foil, with a real red ribbon wrapped around its neck.
Bonn-based Haribo, which invented the ubiquitous gummy bear almost a century ago, had argued the two products often end up side-by-side on shelves and that consumers would be confused — even though one is fruit candy and the other is chocolate.
Lindt had argued there were enough differences to avoid confusion, adding that the packaging is in line with its gold bunny sold around Easter. It also said Haribo gummy bears are so well known by German consumers that they were not likely to confuse them with anything else.
It was not immediately clear whether the decision would be appealed.
Cologne's regional court ruled in favor of Germany's Haribo GmbH on Tuesday, saying that Switzerland's Lindt & Spruengli AG had violated its trademark on the "Goldbaer" or "Gold Bear" gummy bear name. It banned the further sale of Lindt's gold-foil wrapped chocolate bear.
The court said even though the Lindt product was officially called the "Lindt Teddy," consumers would naturally refer to it as "Gold Bear" because of its packaging.
The normal Haribo gummy bear package features a cartoon bear wearing a red ribbon around its neck, while the Lindt product features a bear caricature printed on gold foil, with a real red ribbon wrapped around its neck.
Bonn-based Haribo, which invented the ubiquitous gummy bear almost a century ago, had argued the two products often end up side-by-side on shelves and that consumers would be confused — even though one is fruit candy and the other is chocolate.
Lindt had argued there were enough differences to avoid confusion, adding that the packaging is in line with its gold bunny sold around Easter. It also said Haribo gummy bears are so well known by German consumers that they were not likely to confuse them with anything else.
It was not immediately clear whether the decision would be appealed.
Gummy Bears??? Do they have any blue ones????
I've heard that jello shots are out and now gummy bears soaked in vodka are in.
 @Kushfan We always have jello shooters at NASCAR when we camp....you're invited!
 @beernpizza Blame her. I just try to keep up.
 @WendyTeagarden  @Kushfan The both of you have just left me speechless.
@Kushfan ....or my mustache either.
Wendy is so busy that week she doesn't have time to shave her feet.
@Kushfan No Kush, I believe it still falls into regular guidelines.
@WendyTeagarden I'll bet you cook more than 15 pounds of bacon that week! You deliver? Beer with breakfast means no driving....relegated to our bikes.
Would it be inappropriate and insensitive to say that Wendy shakes her moneymaker that week?
@beernpizza But I have to be in my restaurant during NASCAR week. I appreciate all the money that flows that week.
 @WendyTeagarden  @beernpizza I'm a can do sorta guy. March # weekend is the race. Come on out, it's a hoot. Bob has my email.
@beernpizza now you will need to make them with the chocolate vodka
@Kushfan But the blue gummy bears have the illegal stuff in them.
Is this what's passing for Offbeat this week? Sigh......
Ya gotta play the hand yer dealt.
 @Kushfan I got this card that talks about the company that made them, does that count for anything?
@Kushfan Speaking of which, I'm off to the casino...........
Don't draw to an inside straight.
 @RatchetRanger Is there a power outage in PA? What gives...I saw an article yesterday about the married couple in separate cars that both got popped for a dui...Someone at KATU isn't putting in a legit effort here.
@RatchetRanger  I haven't been any help either......sorry
 @WendyTeagarden slacker