EUIPO rejects trademark protection for “Liebling's Suppe”

The European Union Trademark Office (EUIPO) recently refused trademark protection for the term "Liebling's Suppe" (Liebling's Soup) in connection with the goods "animal feed and pet food." The reason given was that the term merely contains "laudatory advertising information" and does not offer sufficient distinctiveness to be recognized as a trademark. According to the EUIPO, in this context, "Liebling's Suppe" merely conveys the impression that it is a product made specifically for the "Liebling" – i.e., the pet – and suggests that the soup is particularly healthy, tasty, or enriched with additives such as fiber. However, such statements are not considered trademarkable because they lack the originality or individuality required for trademark protection.