Netherlands artist's bid to trademark 'Allah' fails

“Provisional decision: rejected,” said a document on the BOIP's website after contemporary artist Teun Castelein submitted his request to register the Gothic-style black-on-white typographic logo as a brand on Dec. 29.

“As an artist, I'm constantly seeking out the limits of the free market,” Castelein told AFP.

“I can only conclude that, according to the BIOP, all religions are not equal. I don't agree, all religions must be treated the same,” he said.

Chiever, a legal consultancy for brand protection, said it understood the BIOP had rejected the bid because “Allah” lacked “a distinctive character,” meaning it would not be recognizable as a specific brand.

“It's surprising that they chose this reason given that names such as 'Jesus' or 'God Fix It' have been registered as trademarks,” Chiever consultant Bas Kist told AFP.

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