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The company that makes Oreo cookies is suing the supermarket Aldi in the US. Mondelēz International, the company that makes Oreo, says Aldi copied the design of its cookie packaging.
In official court papers, Mondelēz said that Aldi’s packaging looks very similar and might confuse customers. They think Aldi is trying to benefit from Oreo’s fame and good reputation.
Mondelēz also makes other famous snacks like Wheat Thins, Nutter Butter, Chips Ahoy!, and Ritz. The company says Aldi also copies the packaging for these products, then sells them for cheaper.
Aldi in the US did not answer questions from the media.
Mondelēz filed the lawsuit in May. The company said it contacted Aldi many times about the similar packaging. Aldi did change some of its product packages, but Mondelēz says Aldi continues to make copies that are not acceptable.
Mondelēz thinks that if Aldi continues to sell these products, it will damage the reputation of the Mondelēz brand. The lawsuit shows pictures comparing Mondelēz’s products and Aldi’s products side-by-side.
The lawsuit says Aldi is breaking trademark laws and competing unfairly. Mondelēz is asking for money to pay for the damages.
Mondelēz says that Aldi’s business strategy is to sell its own low-priced products that look like famous brands.
Aldi, a German company, is a popular supermarket that sells cheaper alternatives to well-known products. There are more than 2,500 Aldi stores in the US.
This is not the first time Aldi has had a legal problem like this. Recently, a cider company named Thatchers also sued Aldi. Thatcher said the supermarket copied the taste and design of its drink.
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
- the US – USA; The United States of America
- Copy – To make something that looks just 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
- Official – permitted, accepted, and/or approved by the government or people in charge;
- Court – an agency or part of government with judges who decide what is right or wrong ?⚖
- Papers – Important documents or official writings
- 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
- Benefit – to get an advantage; to gain something positive; to have a good effect
- Fame – Being well-known or recognized by many people for a particular reason, like being a famous actor or singer; popularity; greatness; popularity
- Reputation – what people think and say about someone or something; the general opinion or impression that people have about someone or something based on their past behavior, actions, or characteristics
- Snack – A small amount of food eaten between main meals
- Media – News agencies, TV stations, newspapers and magazines
- File a lawsuit – To officially start a legal case in court; to start a process by which a court of law makes a decision to end a disagreement
- Lawsuit – a complaint or disagreement that you bring to a court ?⚖
- Acceptable – Good enough; something that is okay to do
- Damage – ruin; destroy; injure; hurt; break; physically harm; make bad
- Brand – the name of a company and its image; one product with a specific name made by one company, e.g., Sprite is one of Coca-Cola’s brands
- Show – To display or present something; to share; to let people see something
- Compare – To look at two or more things and see how they are similar or different
- Side-by-side – Putting things right next to each other
- Break a law – to do something that is illegal or not allowed; Violate or fail to comply with a law or regulation; not follow a law
- Law – a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
- Trademark – A special name or sign that a company uses for its products and nobody else is allowed to use it
- Compete – to try to be better than others business or people in a particular activity or market
- Unfair – Not being right or honest
- Damages – money you get if you are hurt or suffer loss; compensation; “award” money
- Strategy – A plan or method to achieve a goal
- Alternative – Another choice or option
- Well-known – Famous or known by many people
- Legal – related to or connected to law; related to the rules/laws of a country
- Recently – Not long ago
- Cider – A drink made from apples
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever seen products in a supermarket that look very similar to famous brands? Can you give an example?
- Do you think it is fair for a company like Aldi to sell products that look like famous brands but are cheaper? Why or why not?
- When you go shopping, do you prefer to buy well-known brands or cheaper alternatives? What are the reasons for your choice?
- If you bought a product thinking it was a famous brand but it was a copy, how would you feel?
- Why do you think a company’s “brand” or “reputation” is so important?
- Do you think companies should be able to protect the design of their packaging with a trademark? Why is this important?
- 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 the supermarket Aldi in the ______. Mondelēz International, the company that makes Oreo, ______ Aldi copied the design of its cookie packaging.
______ official court papers, Mondelēz said that Aldi’s packaging ______ very similar and might confuse customers. They think Aldi is ______ to benefit from Oreo’s fame and good ______.
Mondelēz also makes other ______ snacks like Wheat Thins, Nutter Butter, Chips Ahoy!, and Ritz. The ______ says Aldi also copies the packaging for these products, then sells ______ for cheaper.
Aldi in the US did not answer ______ from the media.
Mondelēz filed the lawsuit in ______. The company said it contacted Aldi many times about the ______ packaging. Aldi did change some of ______ product packages, but Mondelēz says Aldi continues to make copies that are not ______.
Mondelēz thinks that if Aldi continues to ______ these products, it will damage the reputation of the Mondelēz brand. The ______ shows pictures comparing Mondelēz’s products and Aldi’s products ______.
The lawsuit says Aldi is breaking trademark ______ and competing unfairly. Mondelēz is asking for money to pay for the ______.
Mondelēz says that Aldi’s business ______ is to sell its own low-priced products that look like famous brands.
Aldi, a ______ company, is a popular supermarket that ______ cheaper alternatives to well-known products. There are more than ______ Aldi stores in the US.
This is not the first time Aldi has had a legal ______ like this. Recently, a cider company named Thatchers ______ sued Aldi. Thatcher said the supermarket copied the taste and ______ of its drink.
