skankdelvar Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) Band names being stolen in exploitation of 'figurative trademark' registration loophole. Support campaign here: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bonzodogbanned/ Straight cut and paste below from campaign: ________________________________________________________________________ THE BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND WANT TO GET THEIR NAME BACK! PLEASE HELP 'THE BONZOS', MODERN ROMANCE AND THE MUSICIAN'S UNION CHANGE UK TRADEMARK LAW! In 2017 the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band discovered that in 2015 an entity had registered their name as a 'figurative trademark' ; the name that they have been associated with since the 1960s when they had a Paul McCartney produced hit ‘I’m the Urban Spaceman’ and appeared in the crossover Monty Python TV show ‘Do Not Adjust Your Set’. The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band trademark registration legally entitles the owner to both the name and the associated goodwill and was registered without the consent or the knowledge of the band. As a result of the grant of the trademark The Bonzos may never be able to record an album or perform a concert under their name ever again. In the two years which have elapsed since this dispute began one member of the band, Sam Spoons, has sadly passed away. The band are challenging the decision to grant the trademark but need your help. To make matters worse The Bonzos are also facing a lawsuit by the trademark owner that asserts the band does not own the name and that their attempt to win it back through the IPO Tribunal service amounts to a fraudulent conspiracy. The band are vigorously contesting this COSTLY claim AND URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP. Even when the Bonzo's win, the legal loophole in the UKs Trademark laws that threatens artists and their intellectual property in every sphere of the industry will remain. This is not an isolated incident. The 1980's band Modern Romance are known for their hits 'Best Years of Our Lives' (re-recorded by the Baha Men for Shrek) 'Ay Ay Ay Moosey' and 'Everybody Salsa'. Recently they had to fight a two year battle to get back their name. They lost thousands of pounds worth of live work after someone registered Modern Romance as a trademark without their permission. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN ? Under current UK legislation anyone can register a band's name, i.e their Intellectual Property, by simply logging on to the IPO (Intellectual Property Office) website, paying a fee of £200 and ticking a box that confirms they are the owner of the name. The IPO does not ask applicants to provide any evidence of ownership, and unless the name has already been registered, a trademark is granted to the applicant. The next time the rightful owner decides to use the name, they can be held to ransom by the new owner. The band are appealing to their fans, musicians and lovers of music to help by contributing what they can to assist them in their struggle. This is an issue critical to every performing artist in the country. Whatever you can give will be put towards ensuring that these National Treasures are able to retain the name that they believe is rightfully theirs, as well as amending the arcane legislation which is currently ripe for exploitation and causing widespread harm and expense to the artistic community in the UK. If you are a performing artist or are in a band you are at risk. ______________________________________________________ Edited July 25, 2019 by skankdelvar 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Utter, utter bas*ards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) Blimey. The law is indeed a donkey! Edited July 25, 2019 by Deedee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJpullchord Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Electric Cheri bounce of my rocket, tout comprende! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) "This is the b-side of our single, sports fans. Hope it makes you sick" Vivian Stanshall Edited July 25, 2019 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) I think basically my reason for supporting this campaign is to help the Bonzos to get their name back ... Then changing the law so that this sort of thing can't happen. Send money now, worry about the details later https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bonzodogbanned/ Edited July 26, 2019 by skankdelvar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) According to this article, the shytes that (allegedly), registered the Bonzo's name are these lot here: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04679585/filing-history Edited July 25, 2019 by Ricky 4000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnyman Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Ricky 4000 said: According to this article, the shytes that (allegedly), registered the Bonzo's name are these lot here: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04679585/filing-history Interesting. Thanks for this.... Hard to tell from the articles of incorporation and the accounts just what the business actually is...... Edited July 25, 2019 by Skinnyman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Utter bastards!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) I'm off the trademark "The Beatles", "U2" and "The Rolling Stones"...when their Lawyers see what's going on they'll frighten the B'Jesus out of anybody else thinking about trying this. Wanna mess with the big boys??? Edited July 25, 2019 by TheGreek 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 5 minutes ago, TheGreek said: I'm off the trademark "The Beatles", "U2" and "The Rolling Stones"...when their Lawyers see what's going on they'll frighten the B'Jesus out of anybody else thinking about trying this. Wanna mess with the big boys??? I've trademarked 'The Greek' ™ You'll be hearing from my leegul team imminently. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 13 minutes ago, Teebs said: I've trademarked 'The Greek' ™ You'll be hearing from my leegul team imminently. I trademarked "The" a while ago. Invoice in the post. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Who's bold enough to trademark "Basschat"? Remember that Ped knows where you live... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Bob Carruthers. I would have staked my pocket money on it! Google him ... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 49 minutes ago, Teebs said: I've trademarked 'The Greek' ™ You'll be hearing from my leegul team imminently. I was going to threaten you with the whole Greek nation taking action....checked the Bank account - we can't afford it. 😢 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 5 minutes ago, TheGreek said: I was going to threaten you with the whole Greek nation taking action....checked the Bank account - we can't afford it. 😢 Can't you get a loan? 😛 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJpullchord Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 MR ROBERT KIRK CARRUTHERS ACTIVE The Old House The Green, Luddington,Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6SJ This him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 29 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said: Bob Carruthers. I would have staked my pocket money on it! Google him ... Promoted the Bonzo's for a while, I wonder if there's more to this tale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 The plot thickens... 🤨 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Thats Cornflour for ya 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Why on earth hadn't the band registered the name themselves?? Even at the lowest levels of the music industry bands get into disputes over name usage, and if you intend on selling merch or recorded music one of the first things you should do is check that the cool name you just came up with by your band isn't already owned as a trademark or likely to land you in hot water with a big corporation who already owns the name (even if none of their products are music related) - I know a band who just had to scrap all their merch and CDs because they didn't do any due diligence in this respect. This isn't really stealing so much as it is incompetant management - it still sucks for the band, but anyone who has been involved in the music industry for half a century should be well aware how mercenary and backstabbing it can be whenever money is at stake and should have taken measures to protect themselves many years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymondo Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 (edited) 'I'll donate next week when I have the pennies ( I've saved the link ). I rather donate to a collection for a hit man to take the robbing bastards out though! Maybe we could arrange for them to visit Fleabag's gaff, near the top of his stairs? Edited July 26, 2019 by Raymondo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkerr Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 2 hours ago, Raymondo said: I rather donate to a collection for a hit man to take the robbing bastards out though! Or perhaps Mr Del Var could be persuaded out of retirement again? I'll drive. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 There was a similar scam when anyone could register someone else's land and houses on the Land Registry. People found they couldn't sell their property and some had their property sold for them by the fraudsters. Surprisingly, for a government department, the LR move pretty quickly and has changed its procedures and just about closed off this loop-hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 15 hours ago, BreadBin said: Promoted the Bonzo's for a while, I wonder if there's more to this tale? You pays yer money.................... 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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