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Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

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Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#11

Post by OJFord »

thom wrote: post #6
OJFord wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think GP means that it's a (probably registered) trademark , which is distinct from 'copyright'.

And, at the very least, it means that Hugo can't get a passport using his new name: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/...

Good point, though it does make me wonder what happens if your name (say, from birth, or even if not) predates the trademark. Does trademark registration similarly check against registered births? And deaths (to allow them again, if no new births)?

Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#12

Post by bgeeek »

pysxul wrote: post #3
bloak wrote: post #2

This has nothing to do with copyright.

He did it because Hugo boss is suing tons of small business with a name including "BOSS" in order to hurt them financially.

I thought I read somewhere that they were suing charities (?), which if true leaves me feeling it’s not so much of a bad thing that he’s doing.

Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#13

Post by nineteen999 »

On a tangent here, a bit over 20 years ago I used to work for a guy who registered "boss.com.xx" (where xx is a country TLD I won't detail) because that was the name of his publishing company here. This was still dialup/ISDN days for most small companies over here.

He held on to it for a long time, but I noticed in the last couple of years that it now redirects to www.hugoboss.com. Knowing this particular person I am fairly sure that he would have sold it to them for a pretty penny.

Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#14

Post by frostburg »

bgeeek wrote: post #12
pysxul wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He did it because Hugo boss is suing tons of small business with a name including "BOSS" in order to hurt them financially.

I thought I read somewhere that they were suing charities (?), which if true leaves me feeling it’s not so much of a bad thing that he’s doing.

It's a brand that built its success on nazi collaborationism, its extremely hard to feel sorry about any struggle it might have.

Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#15

Post by Angostura »

arethuza wrote: post #10
Angostura wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It should also be pointed out that the Deed Poll pictured isn't an official document in any meaningful sense. In the UK, you pretty much change your name by starting to use a new name and telling all the official bodies that you have done so - and asking for new paperwork in that name (including passports etc). These Deed Poll forms are produced by any number of paralegal-esque companies and are useful to include whe…

There does appear to be a central process for doing it in Scotland: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/recording-change-... Edit: Being married to Scots law lawyer I feel obliged to point these things out any time I see a mention of a "UK" legal system... ;-)

As an English person, I would like to both apologise and thank you for pointing out the difference and challenging my default assumption.

Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#16

Post by Angostura »

codeulike wrote: post #9
Angostura wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It should also be pointed out that the Deed Poll pictured isn't an official document in any meaningful sense. In the UK, you pretty much change your name by starting to use a new name and telling all the official bodies that you have done so - and asking for new paperwork in that name (including passports etc). These Deed Poll forms are produced by any number of paralegal-esque companies and are useful to include whe…

To be precise: You will need a Deed Poll, which is a piece of paper with certain words on it, and it needs to be signed and witnessed, but you can make one yourself and you dont need an official body or lawyer to do it.

Correct - and here are the certain words. https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-...

“I [old name] of [your address] have given up my name [old name] and have adopted for all purposes the name [new name].

“Signed as a deed on [date] as [old name] and [new name] in the presence of [witness 1 name] of [witness 1 address], and [witness 2 name] of [witness 2 address].

“[your new signature], [your old signature]

“[witness 1 signature], [witness 2 signature]”

Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#18

Post by matsemann »

kjakm wrote: post #7

1. It's a trademark issue, not copyright. 2. Don't companies have an obligation to defend their trademark or risk not being able to defend them in the future?

Ref 2, it's often explained as "you didn't defend it against X last year, so now you cannot attack me for using it", but I think it's wrong. You don't have to defend it every time. But if you let it slide too many times, the trademark can become dilluted with other meanings/uses over time, making it a common word you cannot defend. Or so.

Re: Comedian changes name to Hugo Boss to challenge trademark law

#19

Post by buran77 »

frostburg wrote: post #14
bgeeek wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought I read somewhere that they were suing charities (?), which if true leaves me feeling it’s not so much of a bad thing that he’s doing.

It's a brand that built its success on nazi collaborationism, its extremely hard to feel sorry about any struggle it might have.

This is quite a gross generalization. Do you often get judged for the sins of your predecessors?

And if you buy anything from Ford, Mercedes, Porsche, Siemens, IBM, Kodak, Volkswagen, Bayer, Allianz, Coca Cola (yes, that Coca Cola), Chase, Standard Oil (Exxon, BP, Chevron) and many, many others what does that say about your principles?

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