Too similar: LEGO sues manufacturer of anti-terror blocks

Heerhugowaard (Netherlands) - The Danish billion-dollar LEGO Group has accused a company of trademark infringement and is now taking it to court.

The colorful concrete blocks are placed in public places for protection, such as here in Magdeburg.
The colorful concrete blocks are placed in public places for protection, such as here in Magdeburg.  © Christoph Soeder/dpa

As the Dutch broadcaster NOS reports, the toy manufacturer is demanding that the concrete molds on the Dutch company's website should no longer be compared to the plastic bricks.

The BETONBLOCK company advertises on its website that the molds it produces are often compared to the "well-known Lego bricks" because of the studs on the top. The products are also sold directly on the site as "concrete Lego bricks" in a wide variety of shapes and colors. The only problem is that they have never agreed this comparison with their Danish inspiration.

LEGO claims that trademark law has been infringed as a result, because the word "Lego" would be subject to legal protection that prohibits others from using it for commercial purposes.

"The LEGO brand is being used in a way that causes harm," said company lawyer Jeroen Boelens about the case described.

"Eight-year-old has never been presented with a 2500-kilo concrete block"

The similarity between the two products cannot be disputed, but it remains to be seen how the court will rule. (symbolic image)
The similarity between the two products cannot be disputed, but it remains to be seen how the court will rule. (symbolic image)  © Daniel Karmann/dpa

The concrete mold manufacturer describes this action by LEGO as pure "harassment against entrepreneurs".

"We don't have the feeling that LEGO is currently being harmed by this. Never before has an eight-year-old child been given a 2,500 kilogram concrete block by his parents because he wanted Lego bricks," said Sander Tacx, Head of Marketing at BETONBLOCK.

The Danish company repeatedly hits the headlines with similar court cases. For example, in April last year with a lawsuit against another entrepreneur from the Netherlands who manufactured and sold Lego train sets.

BETONBLOCK also pleads that the name and the comparison to the plastic bricks is "a common term" in the industry. Outcome open!