Judge bans Lidl from selling imitations of Birkenstock sandals

A Dutch judge has ordered supermarket chain Lidl to stop selling imitation versions of Birkenstock sandals in the Netherlands. The ruling specifically targets models such as Arizona, Madrid, Gizeh, Boston, and Florida, finding that Lidl infringed upon the protected design of Birkenstock's signature footbed. Beyond the sales ban, the court mandated that Lidl must disclose its sales data to the footwear brand and cover both legal costs and additional damages to be determined at a later date.

This decision follows a series of legal actions regarding intellectual property in the footwear industry, including a previous ruling against the retailer Scapino in November 2025. Birkenstock welcomed the decision, asserting that it protects their creative innovation and prevents competitors from unfairly profiting from their iconic designs. This legal outcome is consistent with broader judicial trends in Europe, where the high court recently clarified that common commercial products may be eligible for copyright protection if they demonstrate unique and creative design choices.