The oldest perfume manufacturer in the world and its battle for a statutory trademark protection

The oldest perfume manufacturer in the world and its battle for a statutory trademark protection

Source: GPTO website – picture of the company sign of  Johann Maria Farina from 1868  

„Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz GmbH” is one of the oldest German companies. For over 300 years the manufacturer produces Eau de Cologne. Furthermore, the company is known for leading the way to the first statutory trademark protection.

I. Background

In the 19^th century, Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz GmbH was the world’s leading company with respect to the parfume market. Very famous people like Napoleon, Mozart, Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, Oscar Wild and Bill Clinton were buyers of the well-known Eau de Cologne. According to the company´s archive, Queen Victoria even bought 600 bottles of the famous perfume. Due to its popularity, Farina´s Eau de Cologne is still made according to the original recipe.

II. History of a statutory trademark protection

The popularity of course also had negative aspects. The perfume market was flooded with various competing products, which were established under similar names. One product even got more popular than the original product by Farina. Nowadays, many people think of the brand “4711” in terms of Eau de Cologne, although it was imitated by “Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz GmBH”.

As a result, the company fought over decades to get a statutory trademark protection, in order to stop the imitation of their products. In 1836, the company filed a relevant petition for the first time. Almost 40 years later, in 1875, the first statutory trademark protection became operative and the first trademark application was filed by “Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz”.

III. Conclusion

Therefore, Johann Maria Farina is not only special for being the oldest perfume company, but, also for leading the way and being a pioneer with respect to statutory trademark protection.

To read more details in German, please click here.