Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Move to trademark Diana

Paul McCann
Wednesday 24 September 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund has moved to register a Diana logo and the name Diana, Princess of Wales, as trademarks in the United States and Europe to stop the sale of merchandise that uses her image a memory. Yet ironically similar trademark protection may not be possible in the United Kingdom. Under British law it is not possible to claim possession of a face or a name. In the US it is possible for celebrities to regulate the use of their image.

There has been an unseemly rush to produce T-shirts, coins and other memorabilia bearing the late princess's name and the memorial fund wants to protect such revenue for the charities it represents. Stars in Britain have attempted to protect themselves from so-called "image theft" by trademarking individual aspects of the celebrity. Damon Hill has registered his eyes looking from a crash helmet and Eric Cantona has registered shirts marked "Cantona 7" and the catchphrase "Ooh Ah Cantona" as his own.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in