Overview
- The EU General Court in Luxembourg is reviewing the Asterix publisher’s challenge to an EUIPO decision allowing a Polish arms trader to keep the 2022 wordmark “Obelix” for weapons and ammunition.
- The publisher has owned an “Obelix” trademark since 1998 for goods including books, clothing, and games.
- In filings, the publisher argues the arms company sought to evoke the character’s invincibility, risking unfair advantage and harm to the older mark’s reputation.
- EUIPO maintains the goods and buyers are dissimilar and specialized—principally military personnel, hunters, security, and police—making public association with the comic character unlikely.
- A ruling is expected in several weeks, with the outcome likely to clarify reputation-based protection across trademark classes.