The shapes of Lego men and women are trademarked by the company and cannot be copied, according to a court ruling released Tuesday.
The major toy company was under fire from a competitor, Best-Lock, which argued that the shape of Lego people was not an artistic decision so much as a necessity, because the toys involve “interlocking building blocks for play purposes.”
However, the General Court of the European Union ruled that aspects of the company’s design, like the holes in the figures’ feet and legs did not have a “technical function,” and upheld the trademark.
Lego first registered their figures as a “three-dimensional trademark” in 2000. Lego also tried to trademark a red toy building brick in 2010, but lost the case to Canadian competitor Mega Bloks.
[BBC]
- Why House Democrats Refused to Save McCarthy
- The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time
- Inside One Indian iPhone Factory
- What Happens to Diane Feinstein's Senate Seat
- Self-Silencing Is Making Women Sick: Essay
- The Enduring Charm of John Grisham
- Kerry Washington: The Story of My Abortion
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
