'Keep Calm and Carry On' - Trade Mark Dispute
'Keep Calm and Carry On' - Trade Mark Dispute26 September 2011
The history
The "Keep Calm and Carry On" phrase back dates to the beginning of the Second World War. The government made up posters of the phrase in order to boost the British publics morale. After the war the forgotten phrase was restored to life a few years ago by an entrepreneur-Mark Coop who decided to use the phrase on memorabilia, t-shirts, mugs, souvenirs and many more items. The phrase was born again.
Trademark Dispute
Keep Calm and Carry On Limited was formed in 2009. It took off across the whole of Europe and has been successful since.
When Mark Coop filed the slogan "Keep Calm and Carry On" as a UK trade mark he failed, but successfully registered it on another attempt as a Community Trade Mark (protected in the EU). When people came to know of this war broke out. The public and in particular a Mr. manly owner of a bookshop in Northumberland who sold reproductions of the original poster for years claimed that it was unfair to use the slogan on the fact that the words are used too widely for one person to own the rights a. He is not the only one to challenge the registration. "This phrase was in general use before this one particular person tried to take monopoly rights. I think the EU made a mistake" said founder of Trade Mark Direct who is trying to get the trade mark cancelled.