F1 superstar Max Verstappen has applied to the EU Intellectual Property Office to register a trade mark for his signature celebratory phrase. The application for “Simply Lovely Inspired by Max Verstappen”, in figurative form, was filed on 21 May 2024 and, following some clarification as to the intended goods and services, was published by the EUIPO on 28 August 2024.
The mark is applied for in class 25 for clothing, class 35 for advertising and management services, and in class 41 in respect of education and training, entertainment services, and sporting and cultural activities. The mark will be published for three months, during which time any third party can oppose the mark’s registration. If no such opposition is filed the mark will proceed to registration upon expiration of the opposition period.
The application is indicative of Verstappen’s efforts to further expand his commercial reach and shows the importance of securing the rights to your brand before seeking to exploit it. It remains to be seen if the mark will be opposed or if it will successfully register.
If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact the team at McDaniels Law on 0191 281 4000 or legal@mcdanielslaw.com.