Placeholder

Commercial Awareness Compass

Cuthbert on trial: how supermarket IP wars make for legal drama

Placeholder

Emma Lilley

Emma Lilley is Head of Legal (UK & Ireland) at SD Worx, a University of Law alumna, and founder of In-house Potter, a platform that helps aspiring lawyers learn about careers in in-house law.

Published Mon, 12 May

Episode Hero Image

From Aldi’s beloved Cuthbert to Tesco’s controversial Clubcard branding, supermarket intellectual property (IP) disputes have become more fiery than bargain-hunters on Black Friday. These clashes, involving significant financial risks and courtroom showdowns have immortalised terms like ‘Free Cuthbert’ and ‘Caterpillar Wars’ in popular culture. Even as court battles are settled, and headlines fade, the memes endure, demonstrating how IP conflicts can deeply impact a supermarket’s brand reputation and consumer perception.

Are supermarkets taking strategic risks or gambling recklessly with their reputations? Can witty social media responses genuinely sway public opinion and case outcomes? And ultimately, do these battles help or hinder the supermarkets involved?

Register for free to read the full article

Unlock access to exclusive resources! Register to gain insights, study guides, and career tools.

REGISTER FOR FREE

How AllAboutLaw Events work

  • Discover events

    Explore a wide range of legal career events tailored for aspiring solicitors. Whether it's a virtual fair, panel discussion, or skill-building workshop, find the perfect event to suit your career goals.

  • Schedule and attend

    Sign up for upcoming events, manage your schedule, and easily track the events you're attending. Stay on top of your legal career journey with our user-friendly platform.
Success!

Operation completed successfully.

Error

An error occurred. Please try again.