Overview

• Knipex, a Wuppertal-based tool manufacturer, claims Lidl infringed on its patent by selling a copy of its switch cabinet key under Lidl's Parkside brand.
• The tool in question is used for operating technical systems in buildings, such as heating and sanitation units.
• Knipex has formally issued a cease-and-desist letter to Lidl and the tool's importer, demanding an end to sales and disclosure of production and profit details.
• Knipex CEO Ralf Putsch described Lidl's actions as 'shameless' and expressed surprise that such a violation came from a major German company.
• While Knipex frequently encounters patent violations from online platforms, this is a rare case involving a large German retailer.