It has become recently known that the famous climate activist Greta Thunberg has filed several trademarks related to her names. All of them are European trademarks for classes 35, 36, 41, 42:

GRETA THUNBERG

FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE

According to Greta Thunberg, the reason to seek trademark protection was the fact that her names and the hashtags that she uses were subject to unauthorized, falsely and misleading use by others claiming relation with her climate movement, which wasn’t true.

The practice famous people to register their names as trademarks are not new or strange. Quite the contrary, it is understandable because the names of such people can create a kind of value and reputation that deserves to be protected.

The key moment here, however, is to what extent such registrations will be effective. As it is known, 5 years after a trademark registration, every third party can try to cancel it if the mark is not genuinely used for the goods and services mentioned in its application.

Recently the famous graffiti artist Bansky had such problems regarding his trademark.

All of this comes to show that only registration is not enough when it comes to trademark protection. A good entire strategy is necessary in order for one brand name with value and reputation to be effectively protected in the market in the long run.