Dubai Developer Challenges James Bond Trademark Over Non-Use Claims

Austrian businessman Josef Kleindienst seeks to revoke trademarks tied to the iconic spy, citing lack of commercial use in various product categories.

• Josef Kleindienst, a Dubai-based property developer, has filed cancellation actions targeting James Bond trademarks in the UK and EU, alleging they have not been commercially exploited in specific goods and services for over five years.
• The trademarks under challenge include phrases like 'James Bond Special Agent 007' and the iconic 'Bond, James Bond,' as well as rights related to products such as vehicles, video games, and restaurant designs.
• The trademarks are registered to Danjaq, a US-based company that manages James Bond merchandising rights alongside Eon Productions, the franchise's UK-based production company.
• If successful, Kleindienst has indicated plans to utilize the Bond name, though legal experts note that other intellectual property protections could still restrict his ability to do so.
• The legal filings come as the James Bond franchise faces broader challenges, including delays in announcing a new actor to replace Daniel Craig, who last portrayed the character in 2021's 'No Time to Die.'

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