Novartis Sought Ban on Bunny Costumes at Protests

(MoneyWatch)  Novartis (NVS) lost a ruling in a British court in which it asked for a ban on animal rights protestors wearing animal costumes that cover their faces. The company sought an injunction against protesters against Huntingdon Life Sciences (LSR), an animal testing lab that is at the heart of a controversy between the activists and Novartis. The company says it no longer uses the lab; the protesters say it does -- but neither side has brought forth evidence to prove its assertions.

Novartis' lawyer, Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden, asked the court for an injunction against protesters wearing any sort of face covering, and also demanded that the protesters' messages be censored. IndyMedia said the ruling would:

1. forbid protesters from wearing any sort of face covering, in particular animal costumes, skull masks and all that. It is so worded that even people covering up against the cold would be affected.

... 3. ...restrict the right of protesters to have slogans and pictures on their banners. Images of vivisected animals would be banned.

The judge rejected the request. The march, at Novartis' Horsham site, went ahead with a heavy police presence (pictured). Animal costumes -- such as a rabbit with a surgically opened stomach -- are staples of animal rights protests.

The legal maneuvering comes as Novartis steps up its campaign against the activists, whom CEO Daniel Vasella regards as terrorists. Vasella's vacation home was burned to the ground by the activists over the summer.

The protest underlines the impasse between the two sides: Neither of them seem able to demonstrate the relationship -- or lack thereof -- between the HLS and the drug company.

• Previously:
• Novartis Again Denies Links to Huntingdon Animal Lab; Activists Don't Believe It
• Homes of BMS, Abbott, Novartis Execs Targeted in Late-Night Protests by Animal Rights Activists
• Novartis CEO Sends Emails to 140 Animal Rights Activists: "You Are Criminals"
• Novartis: Police Get Serious About Attacks on CEO; Boehringer Lab Site Torched
• Activists Post Photos of Novartis CEO's Family Grave; Threaten to Flush Mom's Ashes Down Toilet