Liverpool Football Club has moved to trademark the word “Liverpool” - but has stressed it is “only in the context of football products and services”.
The Reds say the application to the Intellectual Property Office is to protect both the club and the supporters “from those benefiting from inauthentic products”.
It’s also to ensure all revenue from those services and products using the word “Liverpool” in relation to the Anfield club is channelled back to it - and then reinvested on aspects such as transfers and the stadium.
The move is not unprecedented, and other Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Southampton have also trademarked place names in relation to their commercial business, BusinessLive reports .
An LFC spokeswoman told the ECHO : “We are applying to register ‘Liverpool’ as a trademark but only in the context of football products and services.
“We are not, and wouldn’t ever, seek to register ‘Liverpool’ across the board.
“This application is strictly to protect the club and supporters from those benefiting from inauthentic products.”
It means the club would be able to take legal action against organisations selling products or services suggesting they are official LFC products because they feature the word “Liverpool”.
Firms using the word “Liverpool” in relation to the city in a genuine way will remain unaffected, it’s understood.
The spokeswoman added: “The benefits to the club to have this protection in place are to ensure all revenues from official products and services are channelled back into the club and this is reinvested into the team and supporting infrastructure.”
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