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The company that makes Oreo cookies is suing a store called Aldi.
The Oreo company says Aldi copied the design of its cookie packaging. The package for Aldi’s cookies looks like the blue Oreo package.
The Oreo company thinks customers will be confused. They think people will see the package and believe they are buying Oreos. The company feels Aldi is trying to use Oreo’s famous name to sell Aldi cookies.
The Oreo company also makes other famous snacks. They say Aldi copies the packages for those snacks, then sells the copied snacks for a lower price.
The Oreo company asked Aldi many times to change its packaging. Aldi made some small changes, but not enough.
Now, the Oreo company is asking the court for help. They want Aldi to stop selling snacks that look like theirs.
Aldi is a supermarket from Germany. They have many stores in the US. It is famous for selling cheaper items. This is not the first time Aldi is in trouble because of its packaging.
Vocabulary
- Sue – To take legal action against someone for doing something wrong or causing harm; to fight someone in a court of law; When someone takes another person to court to solve a problem; to ask a court for help with a problem with another person
- Called – Named; To give something a name
- Copy – To make something that looks like something else
- Design – a pattern/style used to decorate something; the way in which something is arranged or shaped; the way something looks
- Packaging – materials used to wrap and protect products for sale and transport; the box or plastic container that a product is in
- Customer – A person who buys things from a store or business; client
- Confuse – to make someone feel unsure or unable to understand something; to mix up someone’s mind or ideas; to make something difficult to understand
- Believe – to think; to imagine; to have the opinion of; assume; suppose
- Famous – Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
- Snack – A small amount of food eaten between main meals
- Enough – Having what is needed or sufficient; plenty; a good amount; abundant
- Court – an agency or part of government with judges who decide what is right or wrong 🧑⚖
- In trouble – When you do something wrong and someone, like a teacher, parent or boss talks to you about it and/or punishes you; Facing a problem or difficulty
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it’s fair for Aldi to sell cookies that look like Oreos, but cost less? Why or why not?
- Have you ever bought something because you thought it was a famous brand, but it was really a different one? What happened?
- Why do you think companies like Oreo care so much if other companies copy their packages?
- Do you think customers really get confused by similar-looking packages, or do they know they are buying a cheaper brand?
- Is it right for a company to sue another company for copying their package design?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
The _____ that makes Oreo cookies is suing a store _____ Aldi.
The Oreo company says Aldi _____ the design of its cookie packaging. The package for Aldi’s _____ looks like the blue Oreo package.
The Oreo _____ thinks customers will be confused. They think people will see the package and _____ they are buying Oreos. The company _____ Aldi is trying to use Oreo’s famous name to _____ Aldi cookies.
The Oreo company also makes _____ famous snacks. They say Aldi copies the packages for those _____ , then sells the copied snacks for a _____ price.
The Oreo company _____ Aldi many times to change its packaging. Aldi made _____ small changes, but not enough.
Now, _____ Oreo company is asking the court for help. They want Aldi to stop _____ snacks that look like theirs.
Aldi is a _____ from Germany. They have many stores in the US. It is _____ for selling cheaper items. This is not the first time Aldi is in trouble _____ of its packaging.
