The phrase 'Russian warship, go f*** yourself,' spoken by a Ukrainian border guard during the Russian invasion of Snake Island, has become a potent symbol of Ukrainian resistance. Despite its widespread recognition and use in various forms, including protests and postage stamps, the European Union General Court has ruled against its trademark registration. The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service sought to trademark the phrase for commercial purposes, such as on clothing and souvenirs. However, the EU Intellectual Property Office, and subsequently the court, denied the application.
The court found that the slogan is a political statement rather than a commercial identifier. It argued that the phrase, deeply tied to the Ukrainian struggle against Russian aggression, does not serve as an indicator of commercial origin, which is a fundamental requirement for trademarks. The decision highlights the distinction between political expressions and commercial trademarks, underscoring the challenges of appropriating political symbols for commercial use.
This ruling also extended to another trademark request for the blue-and-yellow oval stickers associated with Chiquita bananas, deemed too generic for protection. The Ukrainian border service now has a limited window to appeal the decision to the European Court of Justice, yet the ruling reinforces the EU's stance on preserving the non-commercial nature of political slogans.
