Entain Seeks Trade Marks Curbs for Unlicensed Firms
Highlights
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Entain urges the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to review its trademark registration process.
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The issues highlighted in the proposal pertain to the intrinsic properties of the mark itself.
The letter drafted by Entain’s Group General Counsel and Chief Customer Care Officer, Simon Zinger, addressed to IPO chief executive and comptroller-general Adam Williams, stated that unlicensed operators were still able to secure UK trademark registrations.
Entain investigated 18 gambling brands without a Gambling Commission license, targeting UK consumers, and has secured trademark rights. Among those were 14 who do not even have a valid operating license.
Entain further emphasized the potential gap between gambling regulation and the UK’s intellectual property regime.
Zinger stated that “The UK trade mark register is currently accessible to operators providing gambling services to UK consumers without a Gambling Commission operating license. Operating gambling facilities in Great Britain without a licence is a criminal offence under section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005.”
The letter lists various brands that are processing UK trade mark rights without a Gambling Commission license, with one believed to have links to Russia. >
Entain suggested multiple measures. This included reviewing whether trademark law’s public policy rules could deny protection to applicants whose gambling businesses would be illegal.
Another prominent request was to establish a framework requiring gambling operators to present proof of a valid Gambling Commission license before a trademark could be registered.
Williams said that both of these provisions are connected to trademark policy and do not involve the applicants’ actions or the use of the mark.
For the full news story, Read Here!
Entain investigated 18 gambling brands without a Gambling Commission license, targeting UK consumers, and has secured trademark rights. Among those were 14 who do not even have a valid operating license.
Entain further emphasized the potential gap between gambling regulation and the UK’s intellectual property regime.
Zinger stated that “The UK trade mark register is currently accessible to operators providing gambling services to UK consumers without a Gambling Commission operating license. Operating gambling facilities in Great Britain without a licence is a criminal offence under section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005.”
The letter lists various brands that are processing UK trade mark rights without a Gambling Commission license, with one believed to have links to Russia. >
Entain suggested multiple measures. This included reviewing whether trademark law’s public policy rules could deny protection to applicants whose gambling businesses would be illegal.
Another prominent request was to establish a framework requiring gambling operators to present proof of a valid Gambling Commission license before a trademark could be registered.
Williams said that both of these provisions are connected to trademark policy and do not involve the applicants’ actions or the use of the mark.
For the full news story, Read Here!
