Edinburgh entrepreneur Tammie Ford McMillan is facing a legal challenge from the Agatha Christie estate and Rebekah Vardy over her attempt to trademark a Wagatha Christie-inspired slogan for a line of personalised t-shirts.
Tammie, who hails from the capital, intended to feature the clever twist on the back of shirts, with the owner’s name customised on the front.
However, she has already been served a stern warning from solicitors acting on behalf of footballer’s wife Rebekah Vardy, who has plans to use the phrase on her own range of merchandise.
The dispute has escalated as the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the UK Government’s official body for trademarks, received opposition to Tammie’s application.
Adding to her woes, the legal team from Bear and Wolf representing the Agatha Christie estate have stepped in, asserting that Agatha Christie Ltd holds exclusive rights to the late author’s name, signature, trademarks, and her “famous works and characters.”, reports the Daily Record.
They argue that Tammie’s proposed trademark bears too close a resemblance to the Agatha Christie mark and have demanded its withdrawal.
Yet, the defiant Edinburgh mum-of-two, aged 47, is standing her ground: “I feel I have been penalised for doing the right thing by trying to legally trademark my design. It is just a bit of fun and I would also love to get Coleen involved.”
In a creative spin, Tammie’s take on Wagatha Christie is designed to appear as if reflected in a mirror.
Rebekah Vardy, married to Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, secured the Wagatha Christie trademark last year following her high-profile court battle with Coleen Rooney, the spouse of ex-Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney.
Tammie, a resident of the Royal Mile, is also seeking Coleen’s support and even hopes to convince her to model one of the t-shirts.
Christy, a luxury linen company, has also objected to the application.
Bear and Wolf argue that Tammie’s trademark application was a money-making scheme, while its use in the context of the Vardy/Rooney dispute was merely a “witticism”.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/rebekah-vardy-agatha-christie-estate-093900178.html
