On July 16, 2021, the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) filed the“Turkaegean”trademark for registration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
The Industrial Property Organization (IPO) of the Ministry of Development, since May 2022, when it became the competent authority in Greece for trademarks, has taken the initiative to coordinate and support all actions to challenge the aforementioned trademark by filing an application for its cancellation in February 2023, before the competent EU Office.
In January 2025, the European Intellectual Property Office issued a decision revoking and canceling the European trademark “Turkaegean.” The Turkish side appealed the decision before the competent Board of Appeal (Boards of Appeal-EUIPO).
In its decision today, the Board of Appeal rejected the Turkish appeal and upheld the cancellation and removal of “Turkaegean” as a European trademark.
As Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos stated on the matter:
“The decision by the competent body of the European Union (EUIPO) vindicates our national positions.
The European institutional framework has, for the second time, confirmed the obvious: the term ‘Turkaegean’ lacks any legal or commercial basis and is being set aside. This development did not come about by chance. It is the result of a long, systematic effort initiated by the Ministry of Development, in coordination with the Industrial Property Organization.
We countered the attempt to mislead consumers and the geopolitical instrumentalization of trademarks with strong legal, historical, and commercial arguments.
Greece is proving in practice that it is a strong, serious country committed to international law.
A country that effectively defends our national interests, our cultural and geographical identity, as well as the economic activity of our businesses with determination, methodicalness, and the use of every legal means in all international forums.”