EU Court Denies Ukraine Trademark for Wartime Slogan

The court ruled that the phrase 'Russian warship, go f**k yourself' is a political slogan and cannot be trademarked.

Ukraine's attempt to trademark the slogan was rejected by the EU's General Court, which deemed it a political message rather than a commercial identifier.
The phrase originated during a defiant exchange between Ukrainian soldiers and a Russian warship at Snake Island at the start of Russia's invasion.
The slogan quickly became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, appearing on merchandise such as T-shirts and stamps.
Ukraine's State Border Guard sought trademark rights to prevent misuse and commercial exploitation by others.
The court's decision aligns with the EU Intellectual Property Office's stance that the slogan lacks the distinctiveness required for trademark protection.