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2 clusters · 22 sources · 4 days · First seen 16 days ago · Last updated 12 days ago

Ritter Sport nears legal victory in packaging dispute

Overview

The trademark dispute between Ritter Sport and Mannheim-based Wacker GmbH has progressed through an appeal hearing at the Oberlandesgericht Stuttgart. Presiding Judge Christoph Stefani has signaled that the court is likely to rule in favor of the chocolate manufacturer.

The core of the dispute remains the packaging of Wacker’s ‘Monnemer Quadrat Bio’ oat bar. Ritter Sport maintains that the square design violates its trademarked packaging, which has been protected since 1996. The court reiterated its previous finding of an ‘extraordinary’ visual similarity between the products and warned of a high risk of consumer confusion, noting that both items function as similar ‘snacks and energy providers’ frequently sold in the same retail locations.

Wacker GmbH, which launched the product in late 2024, previously defended the design as a tribute to Mannheim’s grid-like city layout. To mitigate potential damages, the company temporarily removed the square bars from its assortment and introduced a rectangular alternative called the ‘Monnemer Klageriegel.’ A final verdict is expected on November 5.

Entities

Mannheim · Wacker · Ritter Sport · German Patent and Trade Mark Office · Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Ritter Sport filed an appeal at the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart.
[● 4 SOURCES] Wacker released the ‘Monnemer Quadrat Bio’ oat bars in November 2024.
[● 4 SOURCES] Ritter Sport lost a previous ruling at the Stuttgart District Court in January.
[● 4 SOURCES] Ritter Sport claims the oat bar packaging violates its trademark registered since 1996.
[● 4 SOURCES] Ritter Sport is seeking damages and a recall of distributed products.
[● 4 SOURCES] Matteo Wacker stated the packaging design was inspired by Mannheim’s city center.
[● 2 SOURCES] Ritter Sport claims the Monnemer Quadrat Bio packaging violates its trademarked square design protected since 1996.
[● 2 SOURCES] Ritter Sport is seeking damages, a ban on the use of the current packaging, and a recall of distributed goods.
[● 2 SOURCES] Wacker CEO Matteo Wacker stated the packaging design was inspired by the square layout of Mannheim's city center.
[● 2 SOURCES] Ritter Sport previously lost a legal battle regarding this matter at the Landgericht Stuttgart in January 2025.

Timeline

12 days ago

[BUSINESS] 19 sources
Ritter Sport nears legal victory in trademark dispute over square packaging
Ritter Sport is poised to win a trademark lawsuit against Wacker GmbH after a Stuttgart court signaled that the ‘Monnemer Quadrat Bio’ oat bar’s square packaging is too similar to Ritter Sport’s protected brand
16 days ago

[BUSINESS] 15 sources
Ritter Sport appeals trademark dispute over square oat bar packaging
Ritter Sport has appealed a court ruling to the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart in a trademark dispute against Wacker over the square packaging of ‘Monnemer Quadrat Bio’ oat bars.

Sources

ad-hoc-news.de · allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de · berlin-live.de · courage-online.de · dk-online.de · epochtimes.de · faz.net · fehmarn24.de · heute.de · it-boltwise.de · kurierverlag.de · leinetal24.de · moin.de · noz.de · onetz.de · op-online.de · saarbruecker-zeitung.de · staatsanzeiger.de · thueringen24.de · volksfreund.de · wochenblatt-reporter.de · wz.de

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history