The Kleindienst Group (“Kleindienst”), a Dubai-based property development company, has filed revocation actions with the UKIPO and EUIPO against a number of trade marks relating to the James Bond franchise. The filings are on the basis of non-use of those marks in respect of a number of goods and services for which they are registered.
The trade marks in the firing line include numerous variations of the titular hero’s name, including “James Bond Special Agent 007”, “James Bond 007”, “James Bond”, “James Bond”: “World of Espionage and the famous” “Bond, James Bond” and his iconic catchphrase “Bond, James Bond”. The action seeks to revoke various goods and services purportedly not in use under those marks, such as “models of vehicles”, “computer programmes and electronic comic books”, “electronic publishing” among others.
The various UK and EU “Bond” marks are owned by US-based company, Danjaq, LLC, who will no doubt fight to keep the goods and services under those marks intact. Danjaq,LLC is also co-owner of all copyright in the Bond franchise alongside MGM Studios (which was bought by Amazon in 2021).
Danjaq, LLC will have two months from the initial filing date to provide evidence of its use of the marks in respect of the goods and services in question. Kleindienst’s plans for the James Bond name, should it be successful in its revocation attempts, remain to be seen.
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.
