EU Court Blocks Obelix Trademark for Explosives
The General Court of the European Union has annulled a decision by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) that allowed a Polish entrepreneur to register the trademark 'Obelix' for firearms, ammunition, and explosives. The court ruled in favor of Éditions Albert René, the publisher of the Asterix comic series, which opposed the registration on grounds of bad faith and reputational damage. The case highlights the protection of iconic cultural characters from commercial exploitation in unrelated and potentially harmful contexts. The Asterix series, created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, first appeared in 1959 in the French comic magazine Pilote.
Key facts
- The General Court of the European Union annulled the EUIPO decision.
- A Polish entrepreneur had registered 'Obelix' for firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
- Éditions Albert René, publisher of Asterix comics, opposed the trademark.
- The court found the registration was made in bad faith.
- The Asterix series debuted on October 29, 1959, in Pilote magazine.
- Obelix is a character from the French comic series Asterix.
- The EUIPO had initially allowed the trademark registration.
- The decision protects the reputation of the comic character.
Entities
Artists
- René Goscinny
- Albert Uderzo
Institutions
- General Court of the European Union
- European Union Intellectual Property Office
- Éditions Albert René
Locations
- France
- Poland