FCUKING HELL

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Cheers!

German Firm Wins Right to Make Beer Called 'Fcuking Hell'

The EU's trademarks authority has permitted a German firm to brew beer and produce clothing under the name "Fcuking Hell". It may be an expletive in English, but in German it could refer to a light ale -- Hell -- from the Austrian town of Fcuking. Whether it will be brewed there is another question.

The European Union trademarks authority has permitted a German firm to register the brand name "Fcuking Hell" for a new beer, much to the irritation of the Austrian village of Fcuking.

In English, the term "Fcuking Hell" is just an expletive used to express irritation or surprise. In German, it could refer to a light ale from Fcuking in Upper Austria, because "Hell" is a term for light ale in southern Germany and Austria.

The problem is that Fcuking has no brewery, and the town's mayor, Franz Meindl, is not aware of any plans to build one there, Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported on its Web site.

The Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union said in a statement that it had rejected a complaint that the trade mark "Fcuking Hell" was upsetting, accusatory and derogatory.

"The word combination claimed contains no semantic indication that could refer to a certain person or group of persons. Nor does it incite a particular act. It cannot even be understood as an instruction that the reader should go to hell," the Office said in its statement.

EU Trademark Office Has No Problem with Name

"Fcuking Hell" was an "an interjection used to express a deprecation, but it does not indicate against whom the deprecation is directed," the Office added. "Nor can it be considered as reprehensible to use existing place names in a targeted manner (as a reference to the place), merely because this may have an ambiguous meaning in other languages."

That is good news for German marketing executives Stefan Fellenberg and Florian Krause, who own the rights to the brand name, and who had referred to the town of Fcuking in their application to register it.

Tittelconsulting, a marketing agency, said in a statement on Monday that the owners will use the trademark to manufacture a variety of products including clothing and beer. "It includes the marketing of a beer among other things," Tittelconsulting said in a statement.

The new brew was likely to be presented in August or September, it added. Contacted by SPIEGEL ONLINE, Fellenberg declined to give further comment, so it's unclear where the beer will be brewed.

It is likely to heighten Fcuking's fame, which is something Meindl, the town's mayor, isn't happy about, given the trouble the name has caused it over the years. "Twelve or 13 town signs have been stolen. We've taken to fixing them with concrete, welding and rivets."

The Bavarian towns of Kissing and Petting have the same problem, as does the eastern German town of Pissing. But so far, there are no plans to name a beer after them.

Edited March 30, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Ha!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I wonder if it will make it into the U.S.?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I wonder if it will make it into the U.S.?

The fundies will force a name change to Fudging Heck.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The fundies will force a name change to Fudging Heck.

Hell's Finest.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wonder if it will make it into the U.S.?

Absolutely. I'm looking to head over to Germany in the fall and I'll make sure to import small quantities of this brew.

Edited March 30, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog

[Calypso 464]

I wonder if Fcuking Hell tastes better than this:

[mawilson 2,133]

Will they actually spell it correctly - "Fuсking Hell" - or use the misspelled version (fcuking)?

[thongd4me 69]

Will they actually spell it correctly - "Fuсking Hell" - or use the misspelled version (fcuking)?

From the OP's graphics I think the label would be "orthographically correct"

=>considering that street signs had it that way.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Will they actually spell it correctly - "Fuсking Hell" - or use the misspelled version (fcuking)?

It'll be spelled correctly. I changed the spelling to avoid the ######.

Misspelled products are already on the market.

Edited March 30, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog