Monday, January 10, 2005 AD
Signs of the times
Last year, the UK government rewarded the Black Watch's courageous service in Iraq by abolishing the regiment.
But that doesn't mean this historic regiment is lost forever. Its long and proud history as a unit of fighting men may be drawing to a close, but it can now look forward to a bright new future... as a registered trade mark.
The Ministry of Defence filed the application in March 2003, but it has only just been "advertised" by the Trade Marks Registry, suggesting that the MoD encountered some opposition from the Registry. Happily these have obviously now been overcome, and provided that no-one else objects during the three-month advertisement period the mark should proceed to registration in April.
Had anyone noticed the trade mark application before now, it would have provided some early clues about the MoD's plans for the future of the regiment. Trade marks are registered in respect of specific goods and services falling within various standard classes, and the Black Watch trade mark covers goods such as uniforms, jeans and "waist coats having load carrying pouches" (?!?!?) in class 22; commemorative model vehicles, computer games and novelty items in class 28; and even mouse mats in class 16.
But no reference to "warfare services" or "provision of military services to the UK (and occasionally the US) government", which would presumably have come under class 45 ("Personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals [specifically, T Blair and G Bush]; security services for the protection of property and individuals"). Bit of a giveaway, that.
But that doesn't mean this historic regiment is lost forever. Its long and proud history as a unit of fighting men may be drawing to a close, but it can now look forward to a bright new future... as a registered trade mark.
The Ministry of Defence filed the application in March 2003, but it has only just been "advertised" by the Trade Marks Registry, suggesting that the MoD encountered some opposition from the Registry. Happily these have obviously now been overcome, and provided that no-one else objects during the three-month advertisement period the mark should proceed to registration in April.
Had anyone noticed the trade mark application before now, it would have provided some early clues about the MoD's plans for the future of the regiment. Trade marks are registered in respect of specific goods and services falling within various standard classes, and the Black Watch trade mark covers goods such as uniforms, jeans and "waist coats having load carrying pouches" (?!?!?) in class 22; commemorative model vehicles, computer games and novelty items in class 28; and even mouse mats in class 16.
But no reference to "warfare services" or "provision of military services to the UK (and occasionally the US) government", which would presumably have come under class 45 ("Personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals [specifically, T Blair and G Bush]; security services for the protection of property and individuals"). Bit of a giveaway, that.
