They say they’re the ‘original’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Pop culture vultures will well remember the time that Kylie Jenner and Kylie Minogue went head to head in a trademark battle over their first name.
And now, a new trademark drama could soon be unfolding, as one European country attempts to ‘protect’ its identity.
It turns out, there are a few places in the world called Sweden, and arguably the most famous one of them all wants to clear up any confusion about where the ‘official’ Sweden really is.
The Sweden you’re thinking of – the one in Scandinavia – has applied to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to trademark its name from international duplicates that might confuse unsuspecting travellers who want to experience what they’re calling ‘the original Sweden’.
According to a release from the Visit Sweden tourism board, the trademark application ‘aims to ensure no one packs for the Swedish lakes and forests only to find themselves in a far-off town with the same name but none of the Scandi charm.’
What is a trademark?
John Warchus, partner at Moore Barlow Lawyers said: ‘A trademark is the legal right to use a word, phrase or symbol. It gives the trade mark owner the exclusive right to use it in relation to a class or classes of goods or services.
‘It prevents a third party from using the same or similar mark in relation to the same or similar class of goods or services.’
The Northern Lights are a pretty big selling point for the Scandi country (Picture: Getty Images)
And however outlandish that might sound, British travellers have been caught out by two places having the same name, such as the Liverpool football fans who wound up in Lille, Belgium instead of Lille, France back in 2010.
And 35% of Swedes support the idea of a trademark that will ensure travellers known they’ve found the ‘real deal’, ‘the one where you can catch the Northern Lights, enjoy fika, take home some iconic design and possibly meet a moose or two.’
But there are some people that may have a thing or two to say about this grand plan – in particular, the ‘other’ Swedens.
Visit Sweden claim there are at least 8 other places in the world called Sweden, including more than one town in the USA.
Some of the other Sweden’s are small – or relatively unknown – but the town of Sweden, in upstate New York, is perhaps the second-most well-known Sweden (after the country itself), and roughly about the same size as Barnet, in north London.
They want to help travellers from ending up in the wrong Sweden (Picture: Getty Images)
And while you won’t catch any fjords or forest in this American Sweden, there’s still a thriving community who might have something to say about this potential trademark.
Metro spoke to John Warchus, partner at Moore Barlow Lawyers, who explained what the impact of this trademark would be on the lesser-known Swedens. And the answer is, …read more
Source:: Metro
