‘James Bond’ in fight to keep name following legal challenge from luxury property developer
Eon, the owners of the James Bond franchise, are under threat of losing the trademark to the name after a legal challenge was launched by a property developer based in the United Arab Emirates.
According to The Guardian, Austrian businessman Josef Kleindienst has filed a series of lawsuits which are “cancellation actions based on non-use” regarding the name of James Bond.
While the name is protected by trademark law to a degree, if it is trademarked against goods or services which hasn’t been utilised for five years, it can be legally challenged.
Kleindienst’s case relates to multiple versions of the James Bond name, including, James Bond Special Agent 007, James Bond 007, James Bond, and James Bond: World of Espionage. He’s also challenged the notable line, “Bond, James Bond”.
It relates to a series of goods and services which Kleindienst alleges are not being used, such as “models of vehicles”, “computer programmes and electronic comic books”, and “electronic publishing”.
A spokesperson for Kleindienst confirmed to The Guardian that he has plans to roll-out the name in these areas if he’s successful, stating that an “announcement is coming soon”.
Additionally, The EU cancellation actions were filed on January 27th by the Austrian businessman who also has to file UK actions.
The Guardian also spoke to Mark Caddle, a partner and patent attorney at European intellectual property firm Withers & Rogers, who explained the case, “He is challenging a number of UK and European Union trademark registrations for James Bond. The basis of the European Union filings is that James Bond has not been used for the goods and services it protects, and that is likely to be the same basis of the filings in the UK.”
The owners of the James Bond name, Eon, are yet to comment on the trademark case.
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