Fabian Grischkat | "Pride Month": Using trademark law to combat right-wing extremism

In his 12 years in front of the camera, Fabian Grischkat, at just 24 years old, has discovered many topics for himself that are hard to find in the product exploitation industry of influencer marketing. Product placements in his own, supposedly real life on social media – that was certainly a direction he could have taken when, as a 12-year-old, he and his friends started the comedy channel "Grischistudios" on YouTube, where they published parodies and music videos until 2019.

Instead, Grischkat took advantage of the fact that in recent years, public and private media companies have been vying for "newsfluencers" to play along with the new marketing logic on social media. Since then, he has been generating attention for his favorite topics: He has hosted public Instagram channels on environmental protection, participated in projects to strengthen democracy, and advocated for the rights of queer people.

This also includes anti-fascist work: When, during Pride Month in June 2024, the right-wing social media cesspool attempted to hijack queer visibility and unleash its hatred by using German colors in the style of the Pride flag and the hashtag "Pride Month," he registered "Pride Month" as a trademark. Since then, he's been selling shirts with gay or lesbian motifs and the aforementioned lettering. Naturally, an objection was filed. But now it's clear: Grischkat retains his rights, and the objection was rejected. It would be a shame if those who illegally use the term from now on couldn't be warned.