Industry legend, Tony Cable, has been granted Trademark status on his name and image, following a successful application to the Intellectual Property Office. The Trademark Authority ruling means that the ™ letters must be added after his name, whenever it is used to promote products or services. This follows in the footsteps of sports stars and celebrities, like David Beckham, who registered his personal name and image as a brand in 2012.
Registration of a trade mark gives the owner exclusive rights to use the mark and also entitles the owner to prevent third parties from using it unlawfully. Registered trademarks last for 10 years.
Any use of Tony’s name, image or brand, without authorisation, is likely be stopped by legal action. There is a growing trend amongst public figures to get their names and image rights protected through UK trademark legislation.
The legal ruling means that the Tony Cable™ brand can only be used with the presenter’s express permission. It is understood that this will generate lucrative licence fees and royalties, whenever his name is used commercially.
Mark Smith, Marketing Director of NICEIC and ELECSA, commented: “We are seeking legal advice to ensure we don’t breach the 1994 Trade Marks Act. If we use the Tony Cable™ brand incorrectly, we could face a hefty fine or legal bill, so we are proceeding with caution.”
It is thought to be the first time that anyone in the electrical industry has been granted image rights of this kind, as it is only permitted for individuals who have reached a significant level of fame in their field.
Co-presenter, Darren Staniforth commented: “This shows how well known Tony Cable™ has become in the industry. I hope one day to attain a similar level of brand protection in the future.”
The Intellectual Property Office approved the application following a review of Tony’s appearances on numerous radio and TV shows, including BBC1’s ‘Rogue Trader’, Channel 4’s ‘Help! My House is Falling Down’ and Channel 5’s ‘Cowboy Builders’.
“I’m pleased that my name has finally been recognised by the trademark authority. This opens up a lot of options for me. I’m currently exploring a number of exciting merchandise opportunities with my publicist, who has been contacted by some top manufacturers about launching a Tony Cable™ brand of screwdrivers.” said Mr Cable.
“I’m also considering an offer from a major fragrance manufacturer, who has approached me to front a new brand of cologne called ‘Eau de Electrician’. I think there is a real gap in the market for this product, so am considering it carefully.” added Tony.