The trademark dispute at the heart of the Beckham family feud

""Trademark ownership trumps personal identity in commerce," she said. "The Beckham family has strategically protected the 'BECKHAM' brand since 2000 across multiple classes of goods and services. This isn't just family drama, it's a clear example of trademark strategy colliding with personal autonomy.""

""Brooklyn Beckham cannot simply monetise his own name without permission if the trademark is owned elsewhere," she said."

""It's a stark illustration of how trademark rights can sit above the individual," Finster added."

The Beckham dispute centers on control of the BECKHAM trademark across multiple commercial classes, limiting individual family members' ability to commercialise the surname. Trademark ownership can override personal identity in commerce, preventing someone born with a famous surname from using it commercially without permission. Historic precedents include Chelsea FC's registration of José Mourinho's name and cases where founders like Jo Malone and Bobbi Brown lost rights to use their names after corporate dealings. The situation illustrates how a surname can become a corporate asset, creating legal constraints that exacerbate family rifts when commercial value is involved.

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