Overview
- The Stuttgart regional court dismissed Ritter Sport’s suit against Wacker over the quadratically packaged “Monnemer Quadrat Bio,” finding no trademark infringement.
- The court said there was no likelihood of confusion or unlawful exploitation of reputation, emphasizing differences between chocolate tablets and oat or muesli bars.
- Judges noted visual distinctions in the challenged wrapper, including proportions and broader closure flaps, and observed that consumers view the products as different snacks.
- The decision is not final, and Ritter Sport has signaled it may appeal, raising the prospect of a multi‑year legal fight after settlement discussions failed.
- Ahead of the ruling, Wacker pulled the square product and introduced a longer “Monnemer Klageriegel” to limit potential damages, a precaution for the roughly 30‑employee family firm.