September 9 – Premier League Liverpool has successfully trademarked the Liver Bird, the city’s world-famous symbol.
There was controversy two years ago when it emerged it had applied for the rights to the famous bird, which has been associated with the city since the 1350s and even spurned a hit television series, the “Liver Birds”.
They had claimed at the time they had dropped plans to trademark it but it has now emerged that Liverpool City Council and the football club have cut a deal whereby they both applied for different trademarks of the birds.
The club was granted a trademark by the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union (TMDREU).
The Council is seeking its own trademark through the UK’s Intellectual Property Office.
Council Leader Joe Anderson backed the decision, which he claimed was to protect the club’s intellectual property rights.
“When Liverpool FC first raised the issue of registering the Liver Bird logo, it caused a lot of concern that charities and other organisations which used the Liver Bird on their literature and promotional material would be unable to do so in the future,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“The club’s aim is to stop counterfeiters from cashing in by using the badge on pirated goods and they do not want to stop the logo being used legitimately.
“We are happy to help them in these aims and the agreement we reached means the club can protect its Liver Bird logo, other organisations can continue to use the Liver Bird and the Council will be able to protect its design of the image.
“The Liver Bird belongs to the people of Liverpool and the council is committed to doing all it can to make sure it remains that way.”