Lewis Hamilton has recently been crowned Formula One World
Champion for a record-equalling seventh time but, move from the
race track to the slightly less glamorous arena that is trade mark
law, and things are not looking quite so rosy. A recent appeal
decision from the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has
rejected the F1 driver's attempt to cancel a third party trade
mark registration for HAMILTON. This decision could, in turn, have
a serious impact on any commercial plans the driver may have for
selling watches bearing his name.
Background
Like many other 21st century sports stars and celebrities, Lewis
Hamilton knows the value of trade marks or, to put it simply, he
knows that there is a lot of money to be made from branded
merchandise and product endorsement. Not surprisingly, therefore,
he has registered a number of marks in the EU, including LEWIS
HAMILTON, TEAM LH and LH44 (I am reliably informed that 44 is the
number which appears on Mr Hamilton's
