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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Flap over Liverpool's bird symbol | Flap over Liverpool's bird symbol |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The owners of Liverpool Football Club have applied to register the Liver Bird as their trademark, prompting the city council to take legal advice. | The owners of Liverpool Football Club have applied to register the Liver Bird as their trademark, prompting the city council to take legal advice. |
| The club have applied to the UK Intellectual Property Office to register the image for £450. | The club have applied to the UK Intellectual Property Office to register the image for £450. |
| Bosses hope it will stem the tide of counterfeit Liverpool merchandise bearing the famous Liver Bird emblem. | Bosses hope it will stem the tide of counterfeit Liverpool merchandise bearing the famous Liver Bird emblem. |
| But Liverpool City Council said the club had "no right" to claim the bird as its own. | But Liverpool City Council said the club had "no right" to claim the bird as its own. |
| Deputy council leader Flo Clucas said the council was taking legal advice over the trademark application. | Deputy council leader Flo Clucas said the council was taking legal advice over the trademark application. |
| "I have some very real concerns over it," she said. | "I have some very real concerns over it," she said. |
| It belongs to the city and nobody has a right to claim it exclusively as the own Flo ClucasLiverpool City Council | It belongs to the city and nobody has a right to claim it exclusively as the own Flo ClucasLiverpool City Council |
| "They do already have their crest trademarked, but they have no right of ownership to claim the bird, or any version of the bird, as their own. | "They do already have their crest trademarked, but they have no right of ownership to claim the bird, or any version of the bird, as their own. |
| "The Liver Bird, not only does it appear on the Royal Charter for the council, but it is also used by local businesses and schools. | "The Liver Bird, not only does it appear on the Royal Charter for the council, but it is also used by local businesses and schools. |
| "It belongs to the city and nobody has a right to claim it exclusively as the own. It's a symbol for the city." | "It belongs to the city and nobody has a right to claim it exclusively as the own. It's a symbol for the city." |
| She has also raised concerns that if the club were successful in registering the image, they could start charging for its use in future. | She has also raised concerns that if the club were successful in registering the image, they could start charging for its use in future. |
| "The club also says they have no intention of charging organisations that want to use it. | "The club also says they have no intention of charging organisations that want to use it. |
| Mythical bird | Mythical bird |
| "But there is no guarantee in future that the people of the city will have the right to use that without having to pay for it." | "But there is no guarantee in future that the people of the city will have the right to use that without having to pay for it." |
| A statement from the club said: "Liverpool Football Club is seeking to trademark only its own specific version of the Liver Bird, to combat its use in counterfeit merchandise. | A statement from the club said: "Liverpool Football Club is seeking to trademark only its own specific version of the Liver Bird, to combat its use in counterfeit merchandise. |
| "This does not extend to other versions of the Liver Bird, such as the city council's or those used by other commercial or charity organisations. | "This does not extend to other versions of the Liver Bird, such as the city council's or those used by other commercial or charity organisations. |
| "We have absolutely no intention of challenging that usage of the Liver Bird. | "We have absolutely no intention of challenging that usage of the Liver Bird. |
| "We are simply trying to stop people lifting our rendition of the Liver Bird out of the official club crest and applying it to fake Liverpool FC merchandise." | "We are simply trying to stop people lifting our rendition of the Liver Bird out of the official club crest and applying it to fake Liverpool FC merchandise." |
| The Liver Bird is a mythical bird, similar to a cormorant, which as legend has it could often be seen flying alongside the River Mersey with seaweed in its beak. | |
| Two statues of the birds stand atop one of the city's most famous buildings, the Liver Building. | Two statues of the birds stand atop one of the city's most famous buildings, the Liver Building. |
| The bird is also used on logos by several businesses, including the Liverpool Echo, which shows the bird carrying a newspaper in its beak. | The bird is also used on logos by several businesses, including the Liverpool Echo, which shows the bird carrying a newspaper in its beak. |