Percy Pig ‘rip-offs’ could be stopped forever as M&S go to court to try to ban copycats

MARKS & Spencer is trotting off to court to stop rivals “ripping off” Percy Pigs.

The High Street giant has accused British sweetmaker Swizzels of copying the brand with its Pigs Mugs treats.

M&S lawyers claim the sweets are so alike, confused customers could end up buying the wrong ones.

They want damages considered and an injunction against Swizzels, court papers show.

M&S is also demanding sweets that breach any court order be destroyed.

Its 37-page writ, filed at the High Court in London this month, says the sweets have generated a £131.7million turnover since their launch in 1993.

They are said to be so popular that 271 bags are sold every minute.

In their submission, M&S lawyers even included a snap of one customer who had a Percy Pig tattoo as evidence of its cult following.

Swizzels, which also makes Refreshers bars and Drumsticks, has sold its Pigs Mugs brand in corner shops and online since 1996.

But lawyers for M&S and German sweetmaker Katjes, which produces Percy Pigs, argue the Pigs Mugs logo and branding is “highly similar”.

M&S said last night: “It is important to protect the registered trademarks.”

Derbyshire-based Swizzels, founded in 1928, has yet to file a defence.