eBay Denied German Trademark

eBay Must Partially Delete 60 Million Euro Trademark in Europe.

One of the currently best-known advertising slogans from the eBay auction house has become the object of a taut trademark dispute. From October 2003 to January 2005, eBay invested 60 million euros into advertising for the slogan “3…2…1…meins!” After an immediate decision of the Hamburg Land Court (Germany), eBay can not any longer use the slogan in a trademark manner for goods like games. Approximately a week earlier than eBay, a management consultant in Germany had registered the only-marginally different slogan “3..2..1..meins!” as a trademark in Germany. On the grounds of his senior rights, this year he had cautioned eBay and brought them to court.

An eBay representative has denied that this case was having an economic effect on eBay.