Wood Trade Marks and Design Limited

A few years ago, someone applied to register the mark JESUS as a trade mark for clothing in the UK. It was rejected on the basis that it would cause offence or outrage to a proportion of the public. With that in mind, did this mark have a chance?

The applicant wanted to protect the mark for  a range of goods and services, including printed matter, bags and leather accessories, clothing, footwear, headwear and what might be called “haberdashery”.  The UKIPO found that the mark would cause offence to a proportion of the Christian faith and that even though this was not a large proportion of the public, the level of offence meant it would be wrong to register the mark.

Interestingly, the UKIPO relied upon the answers to a question placed on an online forum which sought to obtain the views of members of the Christian faith to the application.  It was not clear whether the UKIPO placed the question themselves, but it seems a sensible step where religion is concerned, since it is easy to be swayed by your own biases.

It is not impossible to register marks with the word JESUS (other other religious figures) in them, of course.  Registered trade marks include ELVIS JESUS and FUNKY BUDDHA, but I have yet to find a registration for FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER.

Boxer David Haye seems to have made a fair amount of cash from his HAYEMAKER brand.  It seems that Anthony Ogogo, another British fighter, has thrown his hat into the ring and has now applied to register a logo as a trade mark in the UK.

It does look kinda familiar, though.. has a familiar ring (or should I say 5).  The office reference used by the agent who filed the application says “Anthony Ogogo 2012″.  I think that may have sealed the deal in suggesting that Ogogo was looking to benefit unfairly from the Olympic rings, and I think we should expect LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) to win by TKO.