A seven-year old British boy was denied a passport by the UK Government due to copyright concerns over his name. He is called Loki Skywalker Mowbray.
A family have spoken of their ordeal after their seven-year-old son, whose middle name is inspired by the Star Wars films, was refused a passport due to copyright issues.
Christian Mowbray, 48, is a serving soldier in The Corps of Royal Engineers at the Rock Barracks in Sutton Heath, near Woodbridge.
However, when they tried to secure a passport for their youngest child, Loki Skywalker Mowbray, the Home Office refused it on copyright grounds, telling the family to either change his name or get permission from the copyright owner, Disney.
Skywalker is the family name of characters at the heart of the Star Wars film franchise, which is owned by Disney.
“We were not aware that this could be a potential issue,” said Christian. “We understand that Loki’s middle name is copyrighted, but we have no intention of using it for personal gain.
“I understand their (the Home Office) position and reasoning, but I believe they need to recognize that modern names are evolving.
“I can understand if an adult changes their name for a ‘stunt’, but this is not the case for a child from birth.”
Loki was born on May 4th.
The Home Office have now since confirmed that a passport will be issued to him.
Previously the Home Office refused a passport to a girl called Khaleesi, a six year old from Swindon in Wiltshire. Warner Brothers held a copyright for the name as it related to Goods and Services, but the Home Office also relented in that case. In fairness to the child she was unlikely to be confused with the character as she didn’t adopt the characters full name Daenerys Targaryen: The First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons.
As for the name of Skywalker, didn’t The Rise of Skywalker establish that anyone who wants can adopt that name without rhyme or reason ?!?!
