GONG GALAXY Files EU Trademark for “Parawing” – What It Means for the Industry
In March 2025, French watersports company GONG GALAXY officially filed a European Union trademark for the word “Parawing”—a term that was originally coined on Maui, Hawaii, where the concept of the parawing was first developed and introduced. While the company did not invent the word, their trademark application is now under examination by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
This move raises important questions and concerns across the global foil and wing industry.
A Word Born in the Waves of Maui
“Parawing” emerged from the experimental watersport scene in Hawaii, where athletes and innovators were blending elements of paragliding, wingfoiling, and downwind surfing. The term quickly gained traction in the global foiling community as a generic reference to this new style of wing propulsion. Until now, it remained an open, descriptive word—shared freely by brands, athletes, and creators alike.
The Implications of the EU Trademark
By filing for exclusive rights to “Parawing” in Europe, GONG GALAXY could, upon approval, gain legal control over how the term is used in commercial contexts across the EU market. This includes potential restrictions on product naming, branding, and marketing by other companies selling or promoting “parawing” gear or events within the EU.
Companies outside the EU—especially those in the United States or Asia—won’t be directly affected by the trademark unless they market or sell their products within the EU. However, any global brand operating in Europe may need to tread carefully when using the term “Parawing” in ads, product descriptions, or packaging. Violations could lead to legal challenges, cease-and-desist letters, or even import restrictions.
What Comes Next?
As of now, the application is still under review, and objections can be filed. Some may argue that the word is too generic or descriptive to be trademarked exclusively. If successful, however, this filing could mark a shift toward corporate control over a grassroots term, much like past cases involving terms like “wingfoil” or “SUP.”
For now, the industry will be watching closely—and some may be wondering: should innovation stay open-source, or is the business of naming becoming the next battleground?
At Stand Up Magazin, this trademark move brings back memories of an earlier controversy in the SUP industry.
In 2011, an engineer, Dr. Yonover, in Honolulu, affiliated with C4 Waterman, filed a patent for inflatable SUPs. Manufacturers like ULI SUP received cease and desist letters. The case brought uncertainty into an industry that was just in development. (Read article here)
While the full resolution of the case was never clear, it’s known that many smaller brands chose to cease production. However, one major Canadian outdoor retailer pushed back and filed a countersuit. In the end, the industry continued to produce inflatable SUPs , and a few years later, C4 Waterman filed for bankruptcy. Whether or not the lawsuit contributed to the company’s downfall remains unclear, but the case left a strong impression on the SUP world back then.
Much like that moment in time, the current trademark filing around “Parawing” raises serious questions about ownership, innovation, and access in a sport still largely driven by grassroots creativity and community evolution. Interestingly enough GONG calls their version of the Parawing “Lowkite”, maybe now we know why. Further we can’t see how such a name trademark is contributing anything to the sport or a possible flourishing industry. Let alone be good for Gongs reputation in the industry.
Finally we may also doubt that a generic term like Parawing can be trademark protected because:
You can’t trademark “Golf Club” for golf equipment because it’s generic. But you could trademark something like “StormGolf Club”, “EdgeWing Golf Club”, or similar, as long as it’s not already registered and is distinctive.
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