Nestle loses KitKat trademark battle

High Court ruling follows a series of long-running legal battles with Cadbury

Nestle
(Image credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)

Nestle's attempt to trademark the shape of the KitKat has been thrown out by the High Court in a decision that could open the door for copycat products.

The ruling marks the culmination of a series of increasingly acrimonious legal battles between the confectionary giant and arch-rivals Cadbury. In 2010, Nestle blocked an attempt by Cadbury to trademark the shade of purple used in its Dairy Milk wrappers, while the latest battle, triggered by Nestle's efforts to patent the four-finger format of the KitKat, has been raging for five years.

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