EUIPO Grand Board Examines PDO Logo as Collective Mark

The EUIPO Grand Board of Appeal delivered a decision on 14 May 2026 in case R 1946/2024 G concerning the registrability of the mandatory protected designation of origin logo used for the Italian cheese Salva Cremasco as an EU collective mark. The proceedings addressed whether the official PDO emblem, required under EU agricultural product rules, could qualify for registration in the collective mark category. The Grand Board assessed the specific graphic representation and its compliance with the legal requirements for collective marks under the EU Trade Mark Regulation. The outcome provides clarification on the interplay between mandatory geographical indication symbols and trade mark protection regimes. Businesses operating with protected designations of origin or similar collective branding should review their portfolios in light of this guidance on registrability criteria.