Polish drink name meets stiff opposition

The name Viaguara cannot be registered as a trademark for energy and alcoholic drinks because it is too similar to the impotence pill Viagra, the European Union has ruled.

The EU's General Court said that the similarity allowed Viaguara, "to take unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the trademark Viagra".

A Polish company with the same name first applied for the EU trademark in 2005 but was refused. The court has now rejected the appeal. The ruling by the General Court can only be appealed against on points of law.

AP