
Greenpeace vs. Rugby World Cup: Trademark Infringement or Fair Use?
With the Rugby World Cup in France just around the corner, Greenpeace has launched a campaign titled "TotalPollution: A Dirty Game" to criticize TotalEnergies' sponsorship of the tournament. Central to this campaign is a video that prominently features the trademark "Rugby World Cup France 2023," owned by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL). In response, RWCL has issued a cease and desist letter, alleging trademark infringement. Greenpeace, however, asserts that European trademark law permits the use of registered trademarks by third parties for non-commercial purposes. This case raises intriguing questions about "fair use" and the boundaries of trademark law.