The organization that puts on the Tour de France bicycle race has lost its trademark dispute with a German fitness studio over the branding "Tour de X" before a European Union court.
The Société du Tour de France had objected to the fitness studio chain FitX's attempt to trademark the name "Tour de X" for a whole range of fitness products and classes, claiming it was too close to the name of world-famous bicycle race.
But the General Court of the EU in Luxembourg ruled on Wednesday that there was no likelihood of confusion between the two names and rejected the challenge from the Société du Tour de France.
The court also ruled that the Tour de France brand was not being unfairly exploited by the fitness compay's planned use of the "Tour de X" name.
The decision clears the way for FitX to trademark the name.
The ruling can still be appealed before the EU's highest court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ).