Court Invalidates 'RIANNA' Trademark: Rihanna Wins Unlawful Registration Case in Turkey

Turkish court voids registration: The company of globally renowned singer Rihanna won its case against unauthorized use of her name in Turkey. The trademark registration under 'RIANNA' was completely invalidated by court order.

Rihanna's lawyers argued the artist's global recognition and that the single-letter difference would create consumer confusion. The defendant claimed the word has Arabic origins meaning 'pleasant fragrance' and filed for dismissal. The court concluded that an average consumer could confuse the two names and deemed the trademark invalid.

In Turkey's Brand Registration Registry, attempts to register phrases similar to foreign celebrities' names have become particularly common since the 2010s. This ruling is considered one of the first clear examples in the case law of Intellectual and Industrial Rights Civil Courts establishing that a single-letter difference falls outside the scope of protection.