Little Bellies Wins Copyright Case Against Aldi

Australian snack food brand Little Bellies has achieved a landmark victory in a copyright infringement case against Aldi, marking a historic first in Australia. Federal court justice Mark Moshinsky found that Aldi had deliberately designed its Mamia packaging to resemble that of Little Bellies, using it as a 'benchmark' for its own products. The court deemed Aldi's actions as 'flagrant' and awarded additional punitive damages, emphasizing the need to deter similar infringements. Little Bellies co-founder Clive Sher described the case as a 'true David v Goliath story' and highlighted the significant costs and efforts involved in the three-year legal battle. The ruling reinforces the importance of intellectual property rights within the competitive food market, particularly for smaller brands. This decision underscores the legal risks large companies face when imitating established competitors.