Yoplait, owned by Sodiaal, has taken legal action against fellow French dairy group Danone in Ireland, alleging that Danone has copied one of its products. The lawsuit was filed at Ireland’s High Court on Friday (11 April), as confirmed by Yoplait to Just Food.
Managing director of Yoplait Ireland, Andrew Burke, stated, “Yoplait Ireland has issued proceedings in the High Court against Nutricia Ireland (Danone) for passing off its Yoplait Skyr yoghurt range. We will leave it to the courts to resolve this matter.”
Danone, in response to the legal proceedings, mentioned that they do not comment on ongoing legal matters as a matter of course. Yoplait’s Skyr products are marketed in Ireland, while Danone also sells Skyr products under its Light & Free brand in the country.
This is not the first time that Danone and Yoplait have been involved in a trademark dispute in Ireland. In 2010, Danone successfully overturned a court ruling that revoked its Essensis yoghurt trademark, which Glanbia had been using under a local license for Yoplait.
The Supreme Court of Ireland overturned the initial ruling, stating that Danone had provided enough evidence of genuine use of the Essensis trademark in the market. This legal battle between the two dairy giants highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the competitive dairy industry.
The original article, “Yoplait sues Danone over alleged imitation of Skyr products,” was first published by Just Food. It is important to note that the information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as professional advice. It is always recommended to seek specialist advice before making any decisions based on the content provided.
