James Bond’s name rights targeted by Dubai property developer

The owners of the James Bond franchise could be facing a legal battle to hold certain copyrights to his name after a challenge was made by a Dubai-based property developer.

The Guardian has reported that Austrian businessman Josef Kleindienst has filed a number of “cancellation actions based on non-use” targeting the James Bond name. The actions seek to utilise a UK and EU law that says if a name is trademarked against certain goods and services but the owner does not commercially exploit it in these areas for at least five years, then a challenge to revoke ownership can be made.

Included in the challenge are the phrases James Bond Special Agent 007, James Bond 007, James Bond, and James Bond: World of Espionage. It also includes the character’s iconic introduction, “Bond, James Bond”, made in every film since 1962’s Dr No.

The Guardian also reported that the “classes” of goods and services include “’models of vehicles’, ‘computer programmes and electronic comic books’, ‘electronic publishing’ and design, encompassing uses such as restaurants, cocktail lounge services and accommodation”.

The filings were made on January 27, and a spokesman for Kleindienst confirmed to the outlet that he was the one to make the challenge and intends to utilise the name if successful. The James Bond trademarks are registered to US company Danjaq, who control the rights alongside Bond production company EON.

It’s the latest twist in the future of the beloved franchise, which is still looking for a new 007 after Daniel Craig bowed out in 2021’s No Time To Die.

Henry Cavill’s mid-‘00s audition for the role recently leaked online, and while the British actor is a popular choice for the part, rumours of Aaron Taylor-Johnson being offered the role surfaced last year.

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