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Wrestling federation loses out to Wildlife Fund

The World Wrestling Federation has failed in its latest bid to be allowed to share the trademark WWF initials with the World Wide Fund for Nature.

(Reuters) The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court ruling last year that the environment group was entitled to a court order banning the US wrestling promoter from breaching an agreement reached between the two organisations 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 Wrestling Federation's use of the WWF initials could lead to youngsters surfing the internet being unwittingly exposed to sights on the wrestling site.R

The Wrestling Federation said the ban imposed by the High Court went too far and it would appeal against Wednesday's ruling.

Total costs of the legal battle over use of the three letters so far is said to run to around £1m ($1.4m/EUR1.6m).