The savings banks have finally settled the dispute with the Spanish bank Santander about the color red. Both use in logos and appearance a nearly identical red tone, the dispute therefore led to the Federal Supreme Court (BGH).
In a settlement, the German Sparkassen- and Giroverband (DSGV) and the Institute agreed that the color red in the German brand image of Santander is represented weaker. This was communicated by the DSGV. A Santander spokesman confirmed the comparison: "We are very happy about the agreement."
It is mainly about the advertising and the appearance of the German branches, said the DSGV on. The international appearance of the Spanish bank was not affected. "The agreement on the reduction of red use by Santander is very important for the protection of the savings bank red," said Association President Helmut Schleweis.
Strife lasted more than ten years
"When it comes to money, people in Germany connect the color red with the savings banks," said the DSGV. The agreement is therefore very important for the municipal money houses.
The dispute lasted more than a decade. The savings banks have been promoting the color HKS 13 since the 1960s and have had this protected by the German Patent and Trademark Office. Santander has been using the slightly darker color HKS 14 since the late 1980s.
The BGH had decided in 2016 that the color of the savings banks in Germany remains protected. Since then, Santander has been looking for solutions to the practical implementation of the verdict, said a DSGV spokesman.
