EU court bans Polish 'Viaguara' drink name
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
26.01.2012 10:37
An EU court in Brussels has rejected an appeal from a Polish company that had sought to trademark energy or alcoholic drinks under the name of Viaguara.
The EU's General Court (EGC) stipulated that the name was too similar to the anti-impotence drug Viagra.
According to the court, the name of such a drink would “take unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the trademark Viagra.”
The Polish company had initially applied for an EU trademark in 2005, but the request was not granted.
In a statement issued by the Brussels court on Wednesday, it was claimed that “even if the non-alcoholic drinks concerned do not actually have the same benefits as a drug to treat erectile dysfunction, the consumer will be inclined to buy them thinking that he will find similar qualities, such as an increase in libido.”
Anti-impotence drug Viagra was concocted by British scientists and ultimately released onto the market by New York-based company Pfizer.
The Polish company now has two months to lodge an appeal at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). (nh/pg)