The soap opera between Thermomix y Lidl enters a new (final) chapter. In case you weren't aware, Vorwerk, The famous company that owns the kitchen robot had sued the supermarket chain for patent violation since it has a device that is too similar to its well-known equipment. Well, a judge has ruled in favor of the first, recognizing that there is a violation of patent rights. What will happen then with the Monsieur Cuisine del Lidl? We explain it to you.
A battle to defend your robot
Last November the trial between Vorwerk and Lidl began in Barcelona. In case you don't know the first one, it is the company responsible for the creation and development of the famous Thermomix food processor, an intelligent device capable of practically everything when it comes to processing and cooking food and that to this day continues to be the king (and the reference) in many homes around the world.
What you probably know is that Lidl, the supermarket chain of German origin, has a version of this device, the Mr. Connect Kitchen, a model that costs almost a quarter of the investment of the Thermomix and that runs out on the shelves every time it replaces a run in its stores.
Such is the success of Lidl's proposal that Vorwerk did not hesitate any longer and last year took legal action against the supermarket, alleging a patent violation. It was not the first time he had done it: as they well collect in El País, in 2013 he also bundled up his head against Taurus (which also has its alternative to Thermomix) and lost out. This time, however, it seems that justice is beginning to smile on him.
Ruling in favor of Thermomix
Commercial Court number 5 of Barcelona has just ruled that, as Vorwerk accused, Lidld's kitchen appliance violates patent rights of the company. After a couple of months waiting for the resolution, this has been the ruling that recognizes that the Lidl machine, of the Silvercrest brand, reproduces characteristics of the Thermomix that imply "direct exploitation" of the invention of the robot.
The lawsuit filed by Vorwerk included a payment request to Lidl to give him 10% of all sales of his Monsieur Cuisine. At the moment it has not been revealed that this will happen since the damages and losses that will fall on the supermarket chain have not been established, but there is already a direct effect: the obligation to immediately withdraw all copies from your machine from all your stores.
In addition to removing Monsieur Cuisine from shop windows, Lidl is forced, of course, to even remove advertising for its food processor, so that in a matter of days its very famous and for all Economic commitment team should go down in history. If you have a chain robot at home, you know: you have just become the owner of a controversial relic. And if you're wondering how maintain the Monsieur Cuisine guarantee, it will be better that you take a look at the article to clear up any doubts.