The opportunities the royal wedding provides for retailers, marketers and advertisers are extensive. Already, makers of memorabilia have been hard at work producing items to commemorate the day.
The legalities surrounding the occasion are largely common to all major public events, but reviewing relevant regulations is advisable for anyone intending to take commercial advantage of the celebrations. Provisions particularly relevant to activity around the royal wedding are found in the Trade Mark Act, the CAP Code, the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and the Lord Chamberlain’s advice on souvenirs. For retailers, the temptation exists to emblazon their wares with everything royal. However, royal imagery and devices, including arms, emblems and titles are all protected under the Trade Mark Act and cannot be used legally without permission. Care should also be taken with photographs of the royal couple, as the copyright may belong to a third party.
