© Aktion Plagiarius e.V.

1st prize - "DENK'ART" glass series (champagne, universal, Bordeaux and Burgundy glasses)

Left originals: ZALTO Glas GmbH, Gmünd, Austria
Each right Plagiarism: Bayerische Glaswerke GmbH, Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab, Germany

In 2004, Zalto launched the "DENK'ART" glass series, which is popular with winegrowers, top gastronomy and consumers and hand-blown according to traditional craftsmanship. In 2020, Bayerische Glaswerke GmbH presented its machine-made "Definition" glass series, which it says is based on two of its own older glass series. Neither company has applied for design protection. A lawsuit is currently pending between the renowned companies. Irrespective of how the court decides with regard to possible unfair competitive behavior, the jury found that the 4 glass types of the "Definition" series look confusingly similar to the 4 most successful glass types of the Zalto series and that fair competition among respected competitors looks different. In its statement before the jury meeting, Bayerische Glaswerke GmbH explicitly refers to "freedom of imitation" and denies that there is any legal or moral wrongdoing.