this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2024
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Game of Thrones name sparks passport mix-up for family (www.bbc.co.uk)
submitted 3 months ago by Emperor to c/andfinally
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A woman was left "devastated" after her daughter's passport application was rejected because she was named after a Game of Thrones character.

Lucy, 39, from Swindon in Wiltshire, said the Passport Office initially refused the application for Khaleesi, six.

Officials said they were unable to issue a passport unless Warner Brothers gave permission because it owned the name's trademark. But the authority has since apologised for the error.

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[–] VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone 36 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Here in Germany, they can decide to refuse a name for a child if it's overly krass or might make the child's life unduly difficult. While one can argue about whether they like that, at least it only happens once. If you have a name, you can get as many passports with it on there as you want.

[–] HumanPenguin 24 points 3 months ago (1 children)

some twonk at the passport office invented this rule.

hence the apology. The Uk passport office has no right or duty to enforce trademarks.

[–] ninja@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Official explained there had been a misunderstanding and the guidance staff had originally given applies only to people changing their names.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 8 points 3 months ago

Even that doesn't make sense. Trademark law doesn't apply to peoples personal names.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago

Sooo many people didn't read that article.

[–] Annoyed_Crabby@monyet.cc 7 points 3 months ago

In Malaysia same rule apply, but the only gate is from the National Registration Department, where they might reject name including joke name and stupidly long name, the other department have no such power.

At least no child have to live with the name Biggus Dickus or Incontinetia Buttocks for 18 years.