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Some European lawyers just ended up on the naughty side of Santa's list -- and the European Union's highest court doesn't think too much of them, either.
In a Grinch-worthy move, lawyers for two of the continent's biggest chocolate makers -- Lindt & Spruengli in Switzerland and August Storck in Germany -- tried to corner the market on chocolate reindeer, as well as treats for other holidays, like chocolate Easter bunnies wrapped in gold foil.
The companies sought to trademark such products and prevent a herd of holiday knockoffs from stampeding across the shelves of European markets. But the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg wasn't buying it, ruling instead that the various shapes the companies wanted exclusive rights to were, essentially, symbols of the holidays themselves. "A rabbit, a reindeer and a small bell are typical shapes in which chocolate and chocolate goods are presented at certain times of the year," the court ruled, according to the Associated Press.
Next thing you know, they'll be trying to trademark hearts for Valentine's Day.
