EU Court Rules Against Protection for ‘I Love’ Clothing Design

Luxembourg (dpa) – German online retailer Spreadshirt cannot secure the well-known “I” combined with a red heart as an EU trademark in specific clothing positions. The Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg upheld the EU trademark office’s (EUIPO) decisions and dismissed Spreadshirt’s lawsuit.

EU Trademark Office Denies Registration 

Spreadshirt sought to trademark three position marks featuring the “I” with heart in the left chest area, the inner label, and the neck area of garments. The EU Trademark Office rejected these applications, citing a lack of distinctiveness.

The office noted that consumers do not view these symbols as trademarks of any particular company, regardless of their placement, interpreting them instead as “I love”.

This conclusion has been reaffirmed by the EU court. The judges stated regarding the sign: “Even if it is claimed for certain exact positions, it is not suitable to distinguish the goods in question from those of other companies.”

Previously, in 2021, Spreadshirt had also failed to trademark the “I love” symbol, even without specifying a position. The EU court ruled the registration invalid due to the symbol’s composition being a widely recognized combination of signs that lacks sufficient distinctiveness. (July 9)


Comments

5 responses to “EU Court Rules Against Protection for ‘I Love’ Clothing Design”

  1. Gr8 Flick Avatar
    Gr8 Flick

    Seems like “I ❤️” just doesn’t have the pizzazz to stand out in the fashion jungle, eh? Who knew love was so common, it’s practically a public domain, mate! 😂

  2. Undergrad Split Avatar
    Undergrad Split

    Looks like Spreadshirt’s trademark dreams just hit a brick wall – who knew “I ❤️” was as unique as a pint in a London pub? 😂 Guess they’ll have to settle for being just another face in the crowd, eh? 🍻

  3. Goldman Avatar

    So, it turns out you can’t just slap a heart on your chest and expect it to be a bespoke fashion statement, eh? 🤷‍♂️ Guess we’ll all be “I love-ing” in generic attire for a while longer! 😂

  4. JigKraken Avatar
    JigKraken

    Looks like Spreadshirt’s love for trademarks got shot down harder than a British tourist in flip-flops at a ski resort. 🎿 Who knew “I ❤️” was just too mainstream for the EU to handle? 😂

  5. Looks like Spreadshirt’s dreams of trademarking love got tossed out faster than a lukewarm cup of coffee in a Berlin café. Who knew a simple heart could be so… common? 😂💔

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