Tesco limbers up for legal battle with Levi

Lawyers for Tesco are heading for Luxembourg in preparation for a legal battle with Levi jeans at the European Court of Justice.

The supermarket is fighting for the right to import designer goods from around the world - and sell them at discount prices to British shoppers.

The legal team will have an hour in front of the 15 Euro judges on Tuesday to put their case.

"This is the last-chance launderette for Levi," said Tesco director John Gildersleeve.

"We'll show the European Court how Levi and other brands are using archaic interpretations of the law to rip-off British customers.

"They try to stop us from buying products in cheaper markets, like the US and eastern Europe, and bringing them into the UK to sell at discounted prices. This keeps prices high because there's little competition, and customers aren't offered a choice."

Tesco will argue the theory that once a product has been bought, the new owner has every right to decide what to do with it.

Currently this is not the case in the world of brands. The brands claim that a previous judgment - known as the Silhouette judgment - in July 1998 allows them to tell the new owners which country the products may or may not be taken to, and who they can and cannot sell them on to.

Mr Gildersleeve continued: "The brands' interpretation of the law doesn't make sense. They think they can threaten us for promoting free trade and bringing our customers a better deal.

"British customers are losing out on some great deals, because the brands are trying to protect Fortress Europe and keep lower prices out".