Thatchers Succeeds In Trade Mark Dispute Against Aldi
Aldi has reached the end of the road in its legal battle with Thatchers, after being refused permission to appeal a significant ruling in an ongoing trade mark dispute over their respective cloudy lemon ciders.
The case centred on Aldi’s launch of its ‘Taurus’ cloudy lemon cider in 2022, which Thatchers claimed was too close in appearance to its own brand. Although Aldi initially won in the High Court – with the judge finding no likelihood of consumer confusion – that decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal in early 2025. Lord Justice Arnold found that Aldi had, in fact, infringed Thatchers’ registered trade mark.
Aldi sought to challenge that ruling, but its appeal has now been dismissed, confirming the decision in Thatchers’ favour.
What This Means For Brand Owners
This case highlights how lookalike branding, even from well-known retailers, can be found to infringe trade marks – especially where there is a risk of brand dilution or consumer confusion.
If you are a brand owner, creative agency or product developer, it’s a timely reminder of the value in:
- Conducting early clearance checks before launch
- Registering your trade marks
- Monitoring the market for potential infringements
Whether you are defending your rights or launching a new brand, taking the right legal steps early can save significant cost and hassle later.
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For advice on brand clearance and trade mark protection, or any other legal branding issue, please call our expert intellectual property lawyers on 0131 478 4724 or complete an Online Enquiry.
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