LONDON (REUTERS)–The World Wrestling Federation failed Wednesday in its latest bid to be allowed to share the trademark WWF initials with the World Wide Fund for Nature.
The Court of Appeals upheld a High Court ruling last year which held that the environmental group was entitled to a court order banning the U.S. wrestling promoter from breaching an agreement reached between the two organizations in January 1994.
“There have been clear and repeated breaches of the agreement. The Fund is in principle entitled to an injunction to enforce its rights under the agreement,” Lord Justice Carnwath said.
The World Wide Fund for Nature–formerly the World Wildlife Fund–claims the wrestlers’ use of the WWF initials could lead to youngsters surfing the Internet and being unwittingly exposed to sights such as “Debra’s sexy photos!”
The World Wrestling Federation, which said the ban imposed by the High Court went too far, said it would appeal Wednesday’s ruling.