Victoria Beckham has trademarked the names of all her children, including Brooklyn, Romeo, and Harper, sparking debate about the implications for others who share those names. The move, reported over the weekend, is seen by some as a natural step for someone who has built a global brand from her name and talent, while others view it as an unusual parenting decision.
Columnist Zoe Williams humorously noted that her own daughter, Harper, was born two years before the Beckhams' Harper, and her dog Romeo is 46 years older in dog years than Romeo Beckham. However, the trademark specifically covers the names in combination with 'Beckham', meaning individuals, places, or products using just 'Harper' or 'Romeo' are unaffected.
The law generally prevents parents from owning their adult children's names, but the trademark applies to commercial use of the full names, such as for merchandise or branding. This means the New York borough of Brooklyn, a beer brand, or a novel titled 'Brooklyn' are not impacted.
Williams joked that it would be more beneficial if Victoria had trademarked 'Posh' and all traits of poshness, including having a Rolls-Royce but no central heating, using an outdoor voice indoors, and a fragile sense of superiority. She suggested that trademarking could then excise these traits from society, though she acknowledged that might not be how trademark law works.
