Protection of your personal name, a priority

Tiffany Conley

In the words of the famous fashion designer, Coco Chanel, "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different". But exactly, how different does one need to be? Our personal names (meaning, our full names i.e. John Smith) define us from the day that we are born so, logically, we believe that our names are our brands, and that we are naturally entitled to benefit from them commercially and otherwise.

But what does our law have to say about this? Our Bill of Rights provides us with the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of trade, which arguably, would include the right to use your personal name as a trademark, as an expression of yourself, and to trade therein.

The South African trademarks Act provides that a name is capable of being registered as a trademark and also provides for the bona fide use of your personal name, the name of your place of business, the name of any of your predecessors in business, or the name of any such predecessor's place of business, as a defence to trademark infringement (also known as the "own-name" defence).

GUCCI Case - Italy

In a recent case, a court in Florence, Italy, had to determine whether the use of the TobeG mark by TobeG Srl, a Florentine handbags and accessories firm created by Guccio Gucci Jnr and Alessandro Gucci - the great grandsons of Guccio Gucci Snr (the founder of the leading fashion and accessories brand GUCCI), constituted infringement of the famous GUCCI trademark. In this case, Guccio Gucci Snr spent 12 years at Gucci, where he built and developed the brand and sold it to the company - Investcorp in 1989.

The court found that the "illegitimate" use of the names "GUCCI" and "GUCCIO GUCCI" (albeit the name of Guccio Gucci Jnr) in relation to TobeG Srl's marketing communications and website activities for their TobeG mark, constituted infringement of the famous GUCCI trademark on the basis that it created an unfair association between the marks and therefore constituted unfair competition to the detriment of the GUCCI mark and the reputation therein.

This case highlights the importance of protecting your brand and carefully considering the sale of your brand name especially if it is your personal name, as the consequences (as illustrated) may have a ripple effect on generations to come.

The Jenni Button dilemma

Similarly, in a South African case (Jenni Button v Jenni Button (Pty) Limited and 4 others), Jenni Button (a well-known fashion designer) concluded a written sale agreement in which she sold her rights to the JENNI BUTTON brand together with the goodwill in the business carried on by Jenni Button (Pty) Limited.

Jenni Button thereafter established a new clothing and fashion brand, PHILOSOPHY, but continued to use her personal name in connection with the PHILOSOPHY brand.

Jenni Button then raised the "own-name" defence and argued that she could not be restrained from using her own name in respect of her business.

The court held that the JENNI BUTTON trademark as well as all goodwill associated therewith, was validly transferred to the purchasers and that, her continued use of her name in relation to clothing amounted to passing-off. Further, that the "own-name" defence required that the trademark be registered, which it was not.

Use of your personal name in trade

Our law therefore provides for the bona fide use of your own name, provided that it is done honestly in the market place. Further, a person enjoys the right to the use and enjoyment of his own name in the conducting of business and sale of goods and that every person therefore has a prima facie right to honestly use their own name in conducting a business.

However, where someone has gained a reputation within the relevant sector of the public, in that name, in respect of the same or similar goods or services, you will not be entitled to use your name in respect of those goods or services or rely on the use of your own name as a defence to trademark infringement or passing-off proceedings.

Trademark protection strategy

There is no question, that brands by their very nature are assets which are used and sold on a regular basis. However, perhaps a better trademark protection strategy, is to register your trademark and then to licence your mark to interested parties.

The benefits are two-fold, firstly you as the owner and Licensor will retain ownership of your mark and all rights in relation to the mark and secondly, you will benefit from the royalties paid in respect of the use of your mark.

Further, I would strongly recommend that the respective license agreements be reduced to writing (although this is not a formal requirement) as the written license agreement will then serve as proof of the terms of agreement between the parties, should any disputes arise between yourself and the Licensee.

In addition to the aforegoing, it is also very important that you ensure that you exercise quality control over the licensing of your trademark. The reason for this being, that the South African trademarks Act requires that a mark which by reason of the manner it is used, should not lead to confusion or deception in the minds of the public.

Therefore, in light of the Gucci and Jenni Button cases, it seems that more important consideration should be given to "saving" your brand for the generations to come.

Finally, as per the famous (abridged) quote by Socrates "Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again."