The German Federal Court of Justice ruled in the Swiss company’s favour in its case against German firm Confiserie Heilemann, maker of a different chocolate bunny.

The dispute arose over the tone of the rival company’s gold foil.

The court said that Lindt had produced market research indicating that 70 per cent of people associated the foil with their “Lindt Gold Bunny” – exceeding the required 50 per cent threshold.

“There are many ways to design Easter bunnies that don’t infringe Lindt & Sprüngli’s rights,” the company said.