The exploitation of your BBC trademarks in the promotion of live restaurant events
Dear British Broadcasting Corporation,
Various BBC trademark programme titles are being used to promote a number of different live restaurant and other events, including ‘Fawlty Towers’, ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, ‘Blackadder’, 'Dr Who', 'Allo Allo', 'Only Fools' and many others. The events are promoting BBC programmes and these are BBC programme titles, which are identical to the words of the protected registered trademarks paid for by the BBC license fee payer. The BBC is the sole owner of registered and unregistered rights in relation to these words in these programme titles, which are protected under UK trademark law and to protect them from unauthorised exploitation. The various websites which promote these events are clearly exploiting the commercial potential of your BBC trademarks, which are protected under UK trademark law. One of the promotions for the 'Fawlty Towers' restaurant event is displayed on various websites including those below and issues a threatening warning message in relation to your BBC programme and protected registered title. The unnamed person responsible for this ‘Fawlty Towers’ promotion claims various rights in relation to the use of the BBC protected registered trademark words, ‘Fawlty Towers’, which it promotes. Whoever is responsible has clearly been well aware that the words ‘Fawlty Towers’ are the only intellectual property used in the promoted title of this restaurant event. As you will see at the links listed below, the unnamed person responsible for issuing the threatening message in respect of your ‘Fawlty Towers’ trademark, is promoting your registered ‘Fawlty Towers’ trademark commercially and exploiting it by using it for email addresses as well as domain names.
The 'Fawlty Towers' web page and the rights it claims, are in relation to BBC UK registered trade mark “Fawlty Towers” (No. 00002067258).
http://www.torquaysuitetheatre.com/legal...
http://www.interactivetheatre.com.au/leg...
legalatfaultytowers.net
https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase...
http://faultytowers.net/media-resources/
1. As the BBC is the sole exclusive registered owner of these various identical trademarks promoting these restaurant events, please would you provide the name of the person responsible who is claiming rights and has issued the threatening message in respect of your BBC trademark, Fawlty Towers?
2. On the web page displaying the threatening message, the words ‘Fawlty Towers’ are the only intellectual property used in the promoted title of this restaurant event. This appears to be a third party. How can a third party claim rights in a threatening court action in relation to the use of the words ‘Fawlty Towers’, when this is a BBC owned and protected registered trademark? Is this how the BBC controls use of its protected registered trademarks? Which of the BBC departments is responsible for the authorisation of this ‘Fawlty Towers’ promotion and exploitation of your trademarks for these various promotions?
Mr Clive Rogers
Dear Clive Rogers,
Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, as detailed in your email below. Your request was
received on 10/10/2017. We will deal with your request as promptly as
possible, and at the latest within 20 working days. If you have any
queries about your request, please contact us at the address below.
The reference number for your request is RFI20171475.
Kind regards,
Information Rights
BBC Freedom of Information
BC2 A4, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP
[1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [2][BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2882
[3]cid:image001.gif@01D341C4.39F79A40
Dear Clive Rogers
Please find attached the response to your request for information,
reference RFI20171475.
Kind regards
Information Rights
BBC Freedom of Information
BC2 A4, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP
[1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [2][BBC request email]
Tel: 020 8008 2882
[3]cid:image001.png@01D2EE68.C9C0F040
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.bbc.co.uk/foi
2. mailto:[BBC request email]
4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now