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You say ‘Viagra’, we say ‘Viaguara’: Polish firm impotent after EU court flick off

By Ben Bouckley, 26-Jan-2012

Related topics: Alcohol Regulation, Energy Drinks, Regulation & Safety

Polish firm Viaguara is suffering from something of an identity crisis after the EU General Court rejected the company’s appeal over trademark registration of the name.

Picture Copyright: Jenny Downing

Picture Copyright: Jenny Downing

The court ruled this week that Viaguara could not be registered as a trademark for the firm’s energy and alcoholic drinks, due to similarities with well-known impotence pill Viagra.

Dismissing the company’s appeal over a 2005 ruling, the court ruled that the lexical similarity allowed Viaguara, "to take unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the trademark Viagra".

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