Dutch Court Prohibits Lidl from Selling Copycat Birkenstock Sandals in Landmark Copyright Case

10:58 AM EDT, 09/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- A Dutch court issued an injunction banning German discount supermarket chain Lidl from selling unauthorized copies of Birkenstock's (7PV.F) sandals in a landmark copyright case, according to a Thursday release. The District Court of Gelderland in Arnhem, Netherlands, ruled that Lidl's sandals infringe the copyright in the footbed design of the German footwear brand's Arizona, Madrid, Gizeh, Boston and Florida models. It ordered Lidl to stop the sales, subject to a fine of 5,000 euros per day of noncompliance, and to also compensate Birkenstock for damages and reimburse its legal costs. The ruling is a first-instance decision and may still be appealed.