Fack ju Göthe may be registered as a trademark

One believes to have had many problems in trademark law at least once on the table or to have evaluated them with colleagues and clients, but one is always taught a new lesson 😉

Thus, the Advocate General at the European Court of Justice, Michal Bobek today recommended that the title of the film “Fack Ju Göhte” be allowed as a trademark, as it has not been proven that the name is offensive and vulgar. The EUIPO, i.e. the European Trademark Office, was of the opinion that the title offended common decency, was vulgar, offensive and in bad taste. The ECJ initially confirmed the decision.

In his opinion, he expressly states that the right to freedom of expression must also be observed in trademark law. In doing so, the Advocate General is also particularly bothered by the equal treatment compared to other trademarks, such as the one for the book “Die Wanderhure”, for which the EUIPO had no reservations.

Even though the topic of freedom of speech of trademarks is very controversial, especially also where this right derives from and what the exact consequences are, he now proposes to overturn the ECJ ruling of January 24, 2018.