As the global auto industry sinks deeper into recessionary mire with every passing news story, an incongruous little item has popped up on the wires.
Ford has been battling the EU’s trademark agency since 2005 for rights to exclusive use of the trademark ‘Fun’ when applied to vehicles – and the latest ruling this week has been made in the Blue Oval’s favour.
Ford’s original application to trademark ‘Fun’ was overturned in 2006 by the EU’s Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market. (Didn’t know we had one of those, Ed.) Back then the OHIM ruled, perhaps not unreasonably, that people “will take the word ‘fun’ as an indication that the car has a fun design and is enjoyable to drive, and should be kept free for use by other traders and advertisers.”
Ford had that ruling overturned this week by the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg (Didn’t know we had one of those, Ed.) and now only a final appeal to the European Court of Justice can stop the Ford Motor Company in its tracks.
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