A court in Switzerland has ruled that the logo of popular spirit brand Jägermeister is not offensive to Christians.
The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property took issue with the logo, which depicts a stag with a cross above its head, arguing that it could be deemed as making light of a Christian saint and be upsetting due to "the religious leanings of some consumers" in Switzerland.
St Hubertus, the 'Apostle of the Ardennes', is said to have converted to Christianity back in the 8th century after seeing a stag with a crucifix between its antlers.
According to the ancient tale, Hurbetus became obsessed with hunting after his wife died in childbirth and would spend his days stomping through the wilderness. Then, having skipped church one Good Friday and decided to go hunting instead, the mystical creature appeared to him and a voice spoke from heaven:
"Hubert, unless thou turnest to the Lord, and leadest an holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into hell," the Lord said. Hubert immediately prostrated himself before God and asked, "Lord, what wouldst Thou have me do?"
A changed man, Hubert went on to study for the priesthood, before becoming ordained. He became known for redistributing episcopal revenues among the poor, praying and fasting, and his extraordinary eloquence in the pulpit.
In its ruling, The Federal Administrative Court argued that the "intensive" use of the Jägermeister logo had "weakened its religious character," and thus the spirit brand should be permitted to emblazon its logo on any product it sees fit.
