Greek Arguments Swayed EUIPO to Rule Against ‘Turkaegean’

Two years was needed after Greece’s development ministry petitioned the EU’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to invalidate the trademark “Turkaegean”, with the subsequent decision on Friday widely hailed by the center-right Greek government.

The EUIPO ruling essentially prevents the Turkish tourism agency’s trademark from being used in the EU for promotion, in mass media ads, transport services, education, in the hotel-restaurant sector and by legal services.

As such, the decision was hailed in Athens and, conversely, eliminates a major component of Turkey’s tourism promotions campaign. The Turkish side will now have two months to file an appeal with EUIPO and four months to submit its arguments in writing.

A similar appeal by the Greek side is underway in other major markets, such as in the United States, with the relevant Turkish tourism agency is centering its campaign on the “Turkaegean” trademark.
The 19-page EUIPO decision cites three primary points for the invalid ruling – and also dismisses the Turkish side’s arguments.

Among others, EUIPO said the trademark has significant geographical indications, something that contravenes Community law when registering trademarks. The decision also notes that the trademarks does not have a distinctive feature and doesn’t refer to something new.

A legal team representing EU member-state Greece had also claimed that the Turkish agency’s registering of the specific trademarks was submitted in “bad faith” and accepted principles.

Conversely, the Turkish side claimed the Greek petition to invalidate the trademark belies a misuse of rights on the part of Athens, which aims to “monopolize” the tourism sector in the Aegean.

Current Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, who was the development minister when Athens commenced its legal challenge, commented on the development on his X account, echoing the satisfaction of the Mitsotakis government with the EUIPO decision.