25 September 2007 - A German court has recently ruled that confectionery firm Ferrero must remove the German word for children 'Kinder' from its “Kinder eggs”.
The ruling thus ends Ferrero’s monopoly over the word, which had been contested by German candy rivals for years.
According to reports in the UK/German business press, the court said that the word 'Kinder' can only describe the target group for the products and is hence not entitled to protection as a brand name. Moreover, Ferrero is only allowed to protect the design of its products.
Jelly gum manufacturer Haribo, which had been fighting for the right to call its sweets ‘Kinder Kram’ (kids’ stuff), won its case along with Zott, which had been prevented from naming a milk pudding ‘Kinderzeit’, or Kids' Time.
Ferrero is planning to appeal the court’s decision and may take further steps by going to the constitutional court, conclude the reports.