Mystery gambling applicant files EU trademark for Eurovision winner Bangaranga
Table of contents
- An applicant believed to be a Bulgarian gambling company has filed an EU trademark application for “Bangaranga”, the title of Bulgaria’s winning Eurovision entry, for gambling services and related products.
- The applicant’s identity remains confidential under standard EUIPO procedure until fees are paid and the application is formally published.
- DARA’s team has not filed or secured trademark protection for the title, based on the available public record, but retains the right to oppose the application on bad faith grounds after official publication.
An applicant believed to be a Bulgarian gambling company has filed an application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to register “Bangaranga” as a European trademark, days after DARA won Eurovision for Bulgaria on 16 May.
The application was submitted to the EUIPO on 17 May, according to patent lawyer Diana Popova, who confirmed the filing to Bulgarian outlet Darik Business Review. The filing covers gambling services and gambling-related products, including slot machines and gambling chips.
Mystery applicant
The identity of the applicant is not publicly visible at this stage. Under standard EUIPO procedure, an applicant’s name becomes available only after fees are paid and the application is officially published.
Popova confirmed that singer DARA (Darina Nikolaeva Yotova) is not behind the filing. Several procedural details appear to indicate a Bulgarian company is involved: the language of proceedings is listed as Bulgarian, which is typically used by domestic entities, and the application was submitted through lawyer Dr. Ralitsa Zayakova-Krushkova.
The application is figurative, meaning it covers not only the word itself but also a visual element or logo, suggesting a branded design concept is being pursued alongside the name.
IP challenge ahead
Legal experts say the filing may be opposed on bad faith grounds after official publication, if the applicant is shown to be exploiting the song’s sudden popularity. Popova cited a comparable situation involving footballer Neymar, in which a Spanish trader’s trademark application was successfully contested on similar grounds, as an illustration of how such challenges can work.
The applicant’s legal representative, Dr. Zayakova-Krushkova, argued that bad faith cannot be assumed and must be proven with specific facts. She also noted that copyright protections covering a song, its lyrics and performance do not, in her view, automatically grant exclusive rights over a single word as a trademark, particularly across unrelated commercial sectors.
Dr. Zayakova-Krushkova said:
“It is important to note that from a legal point of view, the popularity of a word does not automatically make it someone’s exclusive property. In this case, a designation is being claimed for products and services in a sector other than the music industry, the gaming and gambling industry, in which Bulgaria has significant global presence.”
She added that it was preferable for a Bulgarian company, rather than a foreign entity, to have moved first to protect the name commercially.
Under EUIPO rules, DARA’s team can file an opposition within three months of the application’s official publication, citing bad faith as the legal basis. The EUIPO must first verify that fees have been paid and documents correctly completed before the application is formally published.
The trademark dispute adds a further commercial dimension to Bulgaria’s historic win. DARA won Eurovision for the first time since the country joined the contest in 2005, and Bulgaria will host the 2027 event as the winning nation.
The case may become a useful example of how quickly cultural references can trigger trademark disputes. For iGaming operators, it is a reminder of the speed at which brand opportunities linked to viral moments are pursued through formal IP channels, and the legal scrutiny that can follow.
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