Amicus Brief

T-137/26, The Estate of the Late Sonia Brownell Orwell vs EUIPO

Published: August 28, 2026

Court

European Union General Court

Our Position

Personal names are distinctive per se. They are expressly quoted in Article 4 of the European
Trademark Regulation as being capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one
undertaking from those of other undertakings. Signs consisting of names of famous persons
do not lose this capacity. They should be treated like other trademarks for which fame and
reputation serve to enhance the degree of distinctiveness. The court should not deviate from
these rules. The court should follow its case law in support of trademark applications that are
based on personal names.

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