London - The makers of the KitKat chocolate bar cannot register its four-finger design as a trademark, a High Court judge has ruled.
Nestlé was hoping to stop other confectioners from producing similar-shaped bars but rival chocolatier Cadbury objected.
Justice Arnold considered the issues relating to the “distinctive character” of the “three-dimensional shape” at a High Court hearing in London earlier this month and ruled against Nestlé yesterday.
The judge began deliberating on the dispute in 2014 - but had a break to allow judges in Europe to consider legal issues.
Cadbury bosses said they were pleased with the ruling but Nestlé said it was disappointed and intended to appeal.
THE INDEPENDENT