LazyLion
King of de Jungle
The tiny European country of Monaco cannot trademark its name, an EU court ruled Thursday, finding that most people would know what the word stands for.
"The word 'monaco' corresponds to the name of a globally known principality, not least due to the renown of its royal family, its organization of a Formula 1 Grand Prix and its organization of a circus festival," the Luxembourg-based General Court of the European Union said in a statement.
"There is therefore no doubt that the word 'monaco' will evoke, regardless of the linguistic background of the relevant public, the geographic territory of the same name," it added.
At issue for the trademark were goods such as photographs and printed material, along with services related to transport, travel, sporting activities and accommodation.
The World Intellectual Property Organization had granted Monaco the trademark in 2010, but the EU's trademark office refused to follow suit. The court upheld that decision on Thursday, finding also that the trademark is "devoid of distinctive character."
The wealthy city-state has some 30,000 residents.
Source : Sapa-dpa /mm
Date : 15 Jan 2015 11:54
"The word 'monaco' corresponds to the name of a globally known principality, not least due to the renown of its royal family, its organization of a Formula 1 Grand Prix and its organization of a circus festival," the Luxembourg-based General Court of the European Union said in a statement.
"There is therefore no doubt that the word 'monaco' will evoke, regardless of the linguistic background of the relevant public, the geographic territory of the same name," it added.
At issue for the trademark were goods such as photographs and printed material, along with services related to transport, travel, sporting activities and accommodation.
The World Intellectual Property Organization had granted Monaco the trademark in 2010, but the EU's trademark office refused to follow suit. The court upheld that decision on Thursday, finding also that the trademark is "devoid of distinctive character."
The wealthy city-state has some 30,000 residents.
Source : Sapa-dpa /mm
Date : 15 Jan 2015 11:54
