The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has officially cancelled the contentious “Turkaegean” trademark, registered in December 2021 by Turkey’s Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA). The decision, announced on Friday, is a significant win for Greece, which had strongly opposed the trademark since its inception.
The “Turkaegean” trademark was filed by the TGA as part of a campaign to promote Turkey’s western coastal regions, blending “Turk” with “Aegean.” While the campaign aimed to boost tourism, critics viewed the name as an attempt to challenge the global association of the Aegean Sea with Greece.
The Greek government and the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) immediately opposed the trademark, citing it as not only commercially harmful to Greek interests but also indicative of Turkey’s alleged geopolitical revisionism.
EUIPO’s decision
The EUIPO decision (C58927) effectively nullifies Turkey’s ability to use the “Turkaegean” trademark within the EU market, derailing the promotional campaign in Europe. The ruling followed a formal petition by Greece’s development ministry and OBI, which argued that the trademark undermined Greece’s cultural and economic interests, AMNA reported.
Greek Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos welcomed the decision, emphasising the government’s commitment to defending the nation’s rights.
“We will always assert Greece’s interests by utilizing every legal avenue available,” Theodorikakos stated.
The decision also highlights the efforts of the Mitsotakis government, which first filed a request to revoke the trademark in February 2023. Initially, the Greek government faced criticism from opposition parties for allegedly failing to act decisively when the trademark was first registered in 2021.
Turkey’s tourism agency, however, retains the option to appeal the EUIPO ruling by submitting a written response and counterarguments.
