Voodoo: religion or trademark? – Think Schuhwerk

Recently, in Think Schuhwerk v OHMI – Müller (VOODOO) [2014] EUECJ T-50/13 [in French], the Court of Justice of the European Union was called on to rule whether or not “VOODOO” could be registered as a Community Trade Mark (CTM).

Which all sounds very boring: but where it becomes interesting for students of law and religion is that the applicant, Think Schuhwerk GmbH, challenged the registration on the grounds, inter alia, that the term “voodoo” was descriptive and would be used to describe a general style of dress – and in doing so it asked the Court to order an expert appraisal of voodoo as a religion. Continue reading