Kurt Cobain Bridge? Amy Winehouse Corner?: History vs 'celebrity' in the naming of town places

One thing this Kat loves about living in London is the constant history around her, such as through the naming of streets, monuments or buildings throughout the capital. For instance, everyday when scampering to the Tube she walks along Cromwell Road, named after Republican Leader Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) and not, to her surprise, English statesmen Thomas Cromwell (1485-1540). Other scamperings in London have included Downing Street (SW1A), named after George Downing (1623-1684), a confident and intellgence chief of Oliver Cromwell; Jermyn Street (SW1Y), named after Henry Jermyn (1605-1684), an influential courtier and landowner who constantly devised schemes with foreign powers for the restoration and stability of the monarchy; Abingdon Street (SE1), named after Mary Abingdon, author of the letter which would uncover the plot to blow up Parliament in 1605 and Lamb's Conduit Street (WC1N), named after wealthy philanthropist William Lambe who rebuilt Holborn Conduit as a fresh supply of water in 1564. In the limited selection above, the common thread appears to be that these individuals have made substantial contributions to the British Empire.

This Kat was rather surprised to read that Aberdeen in Washington State in the US was recently considering re-naming the Young Street Bridge over the Wishkah River after Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain (1967-1994). Cobain was born in Aberdeen and, in an interview with Monk Magazine in 1992, stated that he regarded the bridge as a quintessential place in Aberdeen where he used to spend time. Rumour has it that spending time under the bridge even inspired Cobain to write the lyrics to 'Something in the Way' on Nirvana's Nevermind album. Cobain was clearly a great musician and songwriter, having sold 25 million albums in the US alone as part of Nirvana in the early 1990s. However, he also struggled with drug addiction, illness and depression, tragically leading him to commit suicide by a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head in 1994. Views on his legacy vary widely, with some considering him a musical genius, others a celebrity drug addict and anything but a role model.

All this raises the interesting questions ... Should Cobain be honoured by naming a place in Aberdeen after him? If so, should Cobain be honoured by re-naming the Young Street Bridge after him, when that bridge was originally named after Alexander Young to honour his achievement in building of the first sawmill in Aberdeen?

Without a doubt, attitudes to people and their achievements change over time. For instance, in times gone by, there was a flurry of places named in England after Nelson Mandela and in the US after Martin Luther King. Both were controversial political figures in their day, although now they are universally praised from most (if not all) sides in the political spectrum. More recently, there were attempts to re-name Havelock Road in London (SW19), originally named after Henry Havelock (1795-1857) who was a prominent British General during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Today, there is a large Sikh Gurdwara temple on the road and the campaign proposed to change the name to Gurdwara Road (Gurdwara meaning Temple in Punjabi). Further, there have been suggestions to re-name Penny Lane in Liverpool (L8), originally named after James Penny (d 1799), a prominent 18th century slave trader. The street was later immortalised by the Beatles in the song 'Penny Lane', a lane not far from John Lennon's house.

In 2008, policy think tank New Local Government Network started a campaign to re-name British roads after modern people. This was on the basis that highlighting recent achievements by locals would build civic pride. However, historically, streets were named after individuals so that their achievements would not be forgotten over time. In the internet age, this Kat would suggest that it is highly unlikely that worthy modern achievements will simply fade into obscurity nor fail to be a source of community pride.

As it turns out, last week the City Council of Aberdeen decided by a vote of 10-1 not to re-name the Young Street Bridge after Kurt Cobain. Cobain will, however, have a landing named after him.

The IPKat cannot help but ask: Is it permissible selectively to re-edit history in this manner? If we do, are we in danger of bowing to the cult of temporary celebrity? Merpel is an ardent admirer of Amy Winehouse's (1983-2011) songwriting and singing ability, but wonders whether it is too soon to name somewhere in Camden after her ... Merpel also does not have much luck with Royal Mail and dreads to think what kind of chaos might follow if too many street names were changed ...

Pharma patent report event; Ronaldo and Elvis trade marks

Pharma patents - the Commission's interim report @ UCL

It’s not too late to sign up for UCL Institute of Brand an Innovation Law’s seminar (developed in co-operation with Lord Justice Jacob) next Wednesday, ‘Patent practices in the pharmaceutical sector – the aftermath of the European Commission’s interim report’.

Speakers are

• Paul Denerley - AstraZeneca
• Ann Nielson - Bristol-Myers Squibb
• David Rosenberg - GSK
• Howard Rosenberg - Frommer, Lawrence and Haug LLP
• John Kallaugher - UCL & Lathan & Watkins

Mr Justice Barling, President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal is in the Chair.
The event is free, and kicks off at 5pm for a 5.15 start – you can sign up here.

Psychics stare into their footballs

It seems that Trade Mark Registry watchers have found a new use for their sport. Not content with predicting the latest extension of the Apple brand by watching out for marks in the form ‘iProduct’, they now are using their amazing mystical powers to predict the footballing future. In seems that one Mr Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro, of Manchester, M16, has applied to register CR9 as a Community trade mark. The said applicant just happens to have always played for Machester United under the number CR7, and not the number 9. This has fuelled speculation that he is finalising a move to Real Madrid, where the present number 9 is to leave.

What puzzles the IPKat is that the application is for Class 43 ‘Services for providing food and drink; temporary and hotel accommodation’. Merpel wants to know, will C3PO be mounting an opposition claim?

'Return to sender' says Australian hearing officer

The IPKat was glad to read that Elvis Jelcic has succeeded in his Australian application to register ElvisFinance as a trade mark for financial services. Mr Jelcic’s application was opposed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, seemingly because consumers might believe that the business was endorsed by the late Mr Presley. According to the hearing officer:

The use only of the name Elvis next to the word FINANCE is not enough to cause a likelihood of deception or confusion. If the applicant were to embellish the mark with anything that would suggest Mr. Presley, such as guitars, the word King, white jump suits or suchlike, then the opponent might have remedies in another jurisdiction. However, I find that this ground of opposition is not established.

The IPKat is happy on two counts. What consumer would really think that the late rock ‘n’ roller would endorse financial services? Even the idea of his estate endorsing them seems unlikely – the link between a dead celebrity singer and finance is tenuous in the extreme. Secondly, Elvis is the applicant’s name (though technically, in the UK at least, this wouldn’t prevent an opposition) and is a ‘standard’ first name.

It seemed a good idea at the time ...

There's always something exciting stirring down under, says the IPKat -- and how! The BBC reports that a New Zealand pizza chain has withdrawn a Halloween promotion that featured skeleton animations of three dead celebrities dancing on graves. The advertisement, for Hell Pizza, showed animated versions of Sir Edmund Hillary, actor Heath Ledger and the Queen Mother dancing to Michael Jackson's song 'Thriller'.

The family of Mount Everest conqueror Sir Edmund, who died in January, said the ad was in "extremely poor taste". Nothing however has been said concerning the taste of the pizza.

Hell's Pizza apologised and said it did not mean to cause offence. Said a spokesman for the company: "The idea of Sir Ed being there was intended to be a light-hearted remembrance".

The IPKat is astonished at the sheer cheek of the pizza company and feels that the ads could have been just as effective if generic likenesses had been substituted for the dead celebs. Merpel says, this just goes to show how important it is for celebrities to plan for the posthumous exploitation of their reputations. Sir Ed, the Queen Ma and Heath Ledger could have registered their names and likenesses as trade marks for pizzas and restaurants if they so desired.

You can watch Sir Ed dancing here
The Cat Who Liked Pizza here
Pizza from hell: the recipe here