Magnum sues Aldi in Ireland for alleged trademark infringement

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is suing supermarket chain Aldi in Ireland for alleged trademark infringement. The Irish Examiner and the Irish Times both reported that the legal action centres on Aldi's Gianni range of ice creams. [1][2]

The lawsuit claims that the Gianni range consists of copycat products. The Irish Examiner and the Irish Times both reported that the products are sold in a style of packaging that is identical or confusingly similar to several Magnum items. The Irish Examiner said these items include copycat versions of Magnum, Vienetta, Feast, Ben and Jerry's, Solero, Twister, and Cornetto. [1][2]

The Magnum Group is headquartered in Amsterdam and states that it is the largest ice cream company in the world. According to the Irish Examiner and the Irish Times, the business records revenues of 7.9 billion euros. The Irish Times added that by 2025, the company held 21 per cent of the global ice cream market. [1][2]

A trademark is a form of intellectual property that identifies a product or service from a specific source, and it can extend to packaging designs and three-dimensional shapes. As FTMQ News reported earlier, trademark disputes over product designs have also led to High Court litigation in London. [8][10]