Attack of the clones: how Aldi gets away with mimicking big brands

The similarities are often striking: supermarket giant Aldi’s cut-price products are packaged in ways that evoke leading brands, including Nurofen, Sultana Bran and Mars bars.
It is a successful formula that is executed globally. The German-owned discount groceries chain, which operates unashamedly under the slogan “Like Brands. Only Cheaper”, arrived in Australia in 2001 and has proved adept at fending off local lawsuits alleging trade mark infringement and misleading and deceptive conduct.
So how does Aldi escape legal liability while piggybacking on established brands? The Federal Court of Australia has answered that question in recent cases. Sydney Morning Herald – Read more…