Billion-dollar battle over hippies' favourite sandal

The Scotsman ^ | May 21, 2005 | ALLAN HALL

[MadIvan]

LOVED by hippies and Hollywood stars alike, Birkenstock sandals are now at the centre of a multi-billion-dollar battle between the firm's heir and his wife.

At stake is the name of the company which sells 40,000 pairs of the no-nonsense shoes every day of the year. Fans include Leonardo DiCaprio, Gwyneth Paltrow and Johnny Depp.

Susanne Papenbrock, 34, is divorcing the firm's heir, Christian Birkenstock, after a 15-year marriage and wants to take the company name with her. Newspapers have dubbed the divorce fight "Dallas on the Rhine".

Ms Papenbrock, who walked out of the River Rhine castle she shared with her husband two years ago, has started a rival company using the Birkenstock name. She markets a sandal called Beautystep that was produced by the "Susanne Birkenstock International" firm and touts her married name in adverts for it. Helped by her blonde good looks the shoe became a hit and she has appeared on numerous German TV talk shows.

Mr Birkenstock, who controls the original company with two brothers, went to court in Cologne to seek an injunction. In their filing they said it was clear "that the defendant's sole mission is to sponge off the reputation of the plaintiff's brands".

The company sales director wrote to major newspapers and retailers accusing Ms Papenbrock of "lying for marketing purposes". He even wrote to Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and members of his cabinet. The letter went on to mention that she received the house where her company was operating from as a gift from her husband.

Mr Birkenstock said he was supportive of his wife's business venture - until she decided to use the family name. He added: "The problem was that retailers were calling, asking: 'What's this new product of yours?'

"We didn't want someone who knows the true Birkenstock to turn around and say: 'What are these funny things?'"

Ms Papenbrock filed an injunction to prevent any more letters being sent, while claiming that Birkenstock, whose image is more hippie than hard, was putting the squeeze on retailers to block her Beautystep shoe. She says she is entitled to the name, having helped "sex up" the image of the shoe that enjoyed a mung-bean-and-goat-cheese reputation before she came along.

Ms Papenbrock said there will be no surrender even though the Cologne court said she had to drop the Birkenstock from her firm's name. She now calls her company SB International, but her adverts still carry her married name, arousing the continued ire of Birkenstock lawyers.

The next battleground will be in the US, where Ms Papenbrock's firm is expanding.

[MadIvan]

And the hippies wanted us to think they were motivated by peace and love.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[Lockbar]

Anybody that wears that junk on their feet should have their head examined, that is unless you don't bathe or want 98% of people to think you are homely and sex-less.

[Semper Paratus]

Hey man, it's only money man. They should give them away man.

[skinkinthegrass]

Thanks, for the post.

[duckman]

"Birkenstock sandal"
The ultimate in BARF apparel. If you wear them with socks you are most definitely a foreigner.

[Flyer]

Anybody that wears that junk on their feet should have their head examined

I love my birkies!

When I used to work on my feet all day they kept me from coming home with bloody stumps at my ankles.

[listenhillary]

She says she is entitled to the name, having helped "sex up" the image of the shoe that enjoyed a mung-bean-and-goat-cheese reputation before she came along.

She has the buyers pegged!

[MinuteGal]

I say Birkenstock
You say Papenbrock
Oh, let's call the whole thing off

Leni

[duckman]

My apologies to those foreigners that don't wear them.

[listenhillary]

OK you love your Birkies, do you sand off the labels? (They are good sandals-btw.)

[listenhillary]

I've been buying rip off brands for under $20. We call them fakenstocks.

[G.Mason]

"When I used to work on my feet all day they kept me from coming home with bloody stumps at my ankles."

That's why God put wings on "birds".

[Flyer]

Nah, I'm generally don't give a darn what folks think of what I wear on my feet.

I have the professional clog. . .

[Gay State Conservative]

I guess The Movement has come a long way since John Lennon (Lenin?) call on us to "imagine no possesions".

But then,that was proven to have been a phoney dream from the start when he left more than a billion dollars to that whack job Yoko.

[poobear]

"bloody stumps at my ankles"

I've had days like that! ;D!

[Jaysun]

Susanne Papenbrock, 34, is divorcing the firm's heir, Christian Birkenstock, after a 15-year marriage and wants to take the company name with her.

To hell with her. She married into the family and wants to take the name of the company with her? Their name? She's nuts.

[Flyer]

BB (Before Birkenstocks) I would take my shoes off as soon as I got home.

Wearing my Birkies, I would forget I even had shoes on.

[Diva]

These shoes have been a God send to some of us with foot and back problems. Most of my friends who ware them are very conservative, even the ones in Ann Arbor if you can believe it! ; )

[moose2004]

My sister-in-law lives in LA (she's from New York City), she campaigned for Kerry, she supports Hillary in 08, and she wears Birkenstocks. Hopeless!