November 2019. Everyone now knows that if you’re selling energy drinks it’s not a good idea to include anything in your trademark featuring the word ‘Bull’. If you do, you’ll have the Red Bull company on your doorstep before you know it. But it’s not just energy drinks. You’ll also be in trouble if you sell Bull beer.

Bull for beer

At the end of September, the Opposition Division of European Trademark Office EUIPO refused an application by Bull beer to register its packaging because energy drinks-maker Red Bull had filed an opposition against it. The objection was based on Red Bull’s trademark registration to the word Bull, which it had also registered for beer. EUIPO concluded that this presented a risk of confusion and that the Bull beer trademark therefore couldn’t go ahead.

Red bull also owns EU trademark rights to the word Bull for beer

Bas Kist