Nestle loses appeal over Kit Kat trademark

The Swiss food and drink giant had argued that shape of famous snack was iconic and deserved protection

LONDON: Swiss food and drink giant Nestle on Wednesday lost its legal bid to register the shape of a four-finger Kit Kat chocolate bar as a trademark in Britain.

The country's Court of Appeal ruled that the chocolate treat -- created in 1935 and marketed with the slogan "Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat" -- is not distinctive enough in shape to warrant a trademark. Nestle had argued that the shape of the famous snack was iconic and deserved protection.

The development is the latest twist in Nestle's long-running legal battle with bitter US rival Mondelez International, maker of Cadbury chocolate. Nestle had launched the appeal after London's High Court had ruled against them in January 2016.



"Nestle is disappointed by the Court of Appeal judgment and is considering next steps," the Swiss firm said in a statement. "This judgment does not mean that our four finger-shape is now free for use in the UK or elsewhere."

The trademark was registered in many other countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany and South Africa, according to Nestle. Mondelez said in a separate statement that it was "pleased" with Wednesday's ruling.

"As we have previously stated, we do not believe the shape of the Kit Kat bar should be protected as a trademark in the UK," it said. Nestle had also failed in September 2015 to get the EU's top court, the European Court of Justice, to let it trademark the shape of the Kit Kat in Britain.