{
  "id": 18791337,
  "title": "Erst auf Tauchstation, nun in Panik: Der Möchtegern-Wirtschaftsminister Beat Jans ordnet eine Untersuchung zur «Lex On» an",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/erst-auf-tauchstation-nun-in-panik-der-mochtegern-wirtschaftsminister",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-07T20:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NZZ Wirtschaft",
    "slug": "nzz-wirtschaft",
    "url": "https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/erst-auf-tauchstation-nun-in-panik-der-moechtegern-wirtschaftsminister-beat-jans-ordnet-eine-untersuchung-zur-lex-on-an-ld.10053042"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "On's pressure pushed the Swiss government into a tight spot over its \"Lex On\" regulation. Beat Jans, the energetic but inexperienced Minister of Justice, found himself in the spotlight when the conflict came knocking. As the government tried to resolve the On demand to use the Swiss cross on their Asian-made shoes, the Institute for Intellectual Property (IGE), a department under Jans' jurisdiction, faced a tough choice. Should they bend the Swissness rules to allow On to use the Swiss cross, or stand firm and potentially stifle a Swiss success story? The IGE, aware of the potential fallout, sought guidance from the General Secretariat of the EJPD but received no support. The pressure from On mounted daily until Jans was forced to confront the issue head-on. After a heated meeting in Zurich, On announced a compromise: they would now be allowed to use the Swiss cross on all products manufactured in Asia, provided it was placed between the words \"Swiss\" and \"Engineering.\" This new interpretation, known as \"Lex On,\" was publicly revealed in March 2026, but not as a victory for On, rather as a boost for Switzerland's innovation sector. However, the decision to ease the Swissness rules left many domestic manufacturers feeling sidelined, with the Swiss Industrial Association warning that the relaxation could lead to job losses abroad. As news of the \"Lex On\" leaked in early 2026, the National Council's Business Audit Commission (GPK) took notice, leading to a ministerial probe under Jans. Jans, who was initially unaware of the intricacies of the dispute, suddenly took charge, ordering an internal review of the IGE's handling of the matter. The investigation, slated for completion in the first quarter of 2027, will determine the extent of Jans' involvement and the key players in the saga.",
  "summary": "On setzte den Bund massiv unter Druck, damit Schuhe aus Asien das Schweizerkreuz tragen dürfen. Der verantwortliche Justizminister wollte von dem Konflikt nichts wissen – bis er selbst in den Fokus geriet.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}