After a collection of Pride watches was confiscated by Malaysia's government, watchmaker Swatch has now won a lawsuit against the country.

Swiss watchmaker Swatch won a suit against the Malaysian government on Monday after a court ordered the return of 172 Swatch watches that were seized last year due to designs that authorities said bore LGBT elements.

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

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

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered the Home Ministry to return the 172 Swatch watches, worth US$14,545, within 14 days of Monday’s court ruling.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -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.

KUALA LUMPUR – Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group AG has won its lawsuit against the Malaysian government over 2023’s controversial seizure of its Pride-themed watches in the South-east Asian nation, according to a report by news portal Malaysiakini.

A Malaysian court ordered the return of rainbow-colored Swatch watches seized for their LGBTQ designs. Malaysia had confiscated 172 watches, citing morality concerns. Swatch challenged the seizure legally.

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.

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.