 decision that recently annulled the use of the “Turkaegean” trademark by the country, according to Greek media.){kind=link}
Turkey has filed an appeal against a European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) decision that recently annulled the use of the “Turkaegean” trademark by the country, according to Greek media.
EUIPO in January canceled the slogan that had been registered by the Turkish Tourism Organization (TGA) for use within the EU.
Turkey submitted the appeal just days before the March 10 deadline. The TGA is expected to submit a justification for the appeal by May 10.
Legal experts familiar with the case told Greek newspaper Kathimerini that EUIPO based its decision on only two of the five arguments presented by Greece, leaving three additional concerns unaddressed. These included broader geopolitical issues, such as Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine, which promotes extensive Turkish claims in the eastern Mediterranean.
Greek experts believe the initial ruling is well-founded, making it unlikely that Turkey will succeed in overturning the decision.
The EUIPO decision cited multiple reasons for its annulment, primarily that the trademark carried strong geographical connotations conflicting with EU trademark laws. The ruling said that “TurkAegean” would be interpreted by English-speaking EU consumers as referring to the “Turkish part of the Aegean,” which was considered misleading.
Despite both being NATO allies, Athens and Ankara have been at odds for decades over a number of issues such as Cyprus, maritime boundaries and overlapping claims regarding the continental shelf. The Aegean Sea, which is at the center of these disputes, plays a crucial role in the tourism-driven economies of both countries.
The slogan “Turkaegean” was first registered by the EUIPO in December 2021 and became controversial in 2022 when Turkey launched its tourism campaign “Turkaegean: Coast of Happiness.” Greek officials strongly opposed the slogan as they saw it as an expression of Turkey’s wider geopolitical ambitions.
In response to the cancelation by EUIPO, Greek Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos said, “We are asserting our rights with full force and through all legal means.”
Greece filed a case against the use of the slogan, arguing that the “TurkAegean” trademark reflects Turkey’s geopolitical ambitions.