Lidl ordered to stop selling Birkenstock lookalike sandals

A Dutch court has ordered the retailer Lidl to immediately stop selling five models of sandals that infringe upon the copyright of Birkenstock's footbed designs. The ruling by the District Court of Gelderland in Arnhem specifically concerns sandals that resemble Birkenstock's Arizona, Madrid, Gizeh, Boston, and Florida models.

If Lidl fails to comply with the injunction, the company faces a penalty of €5,000 for each day of delay. Additionally, Lidl is required to provide Birkenstock with detailed data regarding the sales and orders of the disputed products. The court also ordered Lidl to compensate Birkenstock for damages and cover legal costs, though the specific amounts for these will be determined in separate legal proceedings.

Birkenstock expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating it serves as a signal to manufacturers that they cannot profit from the creativity and innovation of others. The case follows a December 2025 European Union Court of Justice decision which confirmed that industrial designs can qualify for copyright protection if they represent the author's own intellectual creation. Lidl maintains the right to appeal the decision.