Swiss watchmaker Swatch has successfully challenged the Malaysian government over the seizure of 172 watches displaying LGBTQ-inspired designs. The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the watches were confiscated in May last year without a warrant and mandated their return within 14 days.

A court ruled the government, which said the watches had "LGBT elements", did not have authority to seize them.

A Malaysian court ordered the government on Monday to return rainbow-coloured watches and accessories made by Swatch Group that were seized last year for designs celebrating LGBTQ rights, a prosecutor told Reuters.

Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group AG has won its lawsuit against the Malaysian government over last year’s controversial seizure of its Pride-themed watches in the Southeast Asian nation, according to a Malaysiakini report.

The Malaysian government has been ordered to return hundreds of watches, made in the different colours of the rainbow, after seizing them for containing “LGBT elements.” A court in the Southeast Asian country ordered the government to return them to Swiss watchmaker Swatch after they were seized in May 2023.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the rainbow-themed timepieces were illegally confiscated from mall stores last year.