We should care but we don’t really….
The Times (UK) reports
Conor McGregor has withdrawn his application to register his “Notorious” moniker as a whiskey trademark after an objection by a brewer in Co Carlow.
The mixed martial artist filed an application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Spain last year to register his fight name as a trademark for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks across the continent.
After he fought Floyd Mayweather in August last year he said that his whiskey was “coming soon” and vowed to “take over” the Irish market.
The Dublin fighter has withdrawn the application in the face of opposition from Seamus O’Hara, the founder of the Carlow Brewing Company. Mr O’Hara formally objected to McGregor Sports & Entertainment registering the trademark, claiming that he registered the “Notorious” brand for selling alcohol in 2016.
Carlow Brewing, also known as O’Hara’s Brewery, is an independent craft company founded in 1996. The Notorious brand registered in May, 2016, refers to a Red Indian Pale Ale it markets as a “great dinner date” beer.
It is the only European trademark owned by Mr O’Hara, who told the EUIPO that the identical nature of Ms Gregor’s proposed trademark “was expressly prohibited by law”.
He said that his own Notorious trademark and the one proposed by McGregor’s firm “cannot co-exist peacefully in the market”.
McGregor’s company has notified EUIPO that it has withdrawn its application. EUIPO wrote to Mr O’Hara’s representatives informing them of the development and has told McGregor’s company firm to pay €620 in costs to Mr O’Hara.
