Ex-BR Branding - who owns it?

[Lampshade]

This might sound like a very strange question but it crossed my mind earlier and it's this. Who owns the ex-BR branding and naming rights, for example North West Regional Railways or InterCity? ScotRail's an obvious one but the others seem to have disappeared into obscurity.

 

[142094]

BRB Residuary? Or is is something held for the national interest?

 

[Tom B]

I'd assume they would remain with the BRB unless otherwise transferred elsewhere - until Mr Cameron gets rid of it, of course.

 

[starrymarkb]

The ex-BR trademarks are held by the DfT and are available for TOCs to licence if they so wish, certainly GWT used Intercity(r) prior to First's takeover

 

[Greenback]

That's right - BR was governement owned and the DfT retained the rights to the BR branding on privatisation. This is why the double arrow is still use don station road signs, and by National Rail.

 

[DarloRich]

Yep - DfT own the rights to the BR intelectual property. I wonder how much they make from licensing?

 

[MacCookie]

Hey guys

This might sound like a very strange question but it crossed my mind earlier and it's this. Who owns the ex-BR branding and naming rights, for example North West Regional Railways or InterCity? ScotRail's an obvious one but the others seem to have disappeared into obscurity.

A fair number are owned by The Secretary of State for Transport (including the BR double arrow). The ScotRail brand is owned by the Scottish Ministers.

Ewan

 

[Royston Vasey]

Yep - DfT own the rights to the BR intelectual property. I wonder how much they make from licensing?

Would suspect not a great deal any more. Patents on things like tilt packs licensed to Fiat, and the BR-Brecknall Willis high speed pantograph have probably lapsed. Most patents lapse 20 years from filing. Also the BR Research Division had wound down considerably pre-privatisation before being sold to what is now Delta Rail.

 

[DarloRich]

Would suspect not a great deal any more. Patents on things like tilt packs licensed to Fiat, and the BR-Brecknall Willis high speed pantograph have probably lapsed. Most patents lapse 20 years from filing. Also the BR Research Division had wound down considerably pre-privatisation before being sold to what is now Delta Rail.

hadnt thought of that - i was considering rights in names/logos/typefaces etc

 

[barrykas]

The ex-BR trademarks are held by the DfT and are available for TOCs to licence if they so wish, certainly GWT used Intercity(r) prior to First's takeover

Looking at the register on the IPO website, it seems that EMT, NXEC(!) and LER all license the InterCity® trademark for use on stationery and toys & games, and the licenses for MML, Anglia, GWT, ICEC, ICWC and XC were revoked en masse at the end of May 2008.

Registered licenses to use the brand in relation to rail transport, meanwhile, are held by Fragonset(!), EMT, NXEC and LER.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[shinkansen1966]

It is good to see the BR double arrow symbol has been retained across the country. For instance on road signs and on station entrances. Imagine the cost to local authorities, if they had to change all their local signage to reflect the new franchise holder for the area ?

Now imagine the cost to rail travellers over the last 15 years with all these multiple signs and leaflets bearing different franchises. At York the other day, I counted at least 5 different brands each with their own logos, house styles and font. Do we really need all this duplication ?

 

[Tom B]

It is good to see the BR double arrow symbol has been retained across the country. For instance on road signs and on station entrances. Imagine the cost to local authorities, if they had to change all their local signage to reflect the new franchise holder for the area ?

Now imagine the cost to rail travellers over the last 15 years with all these multiple signs and leaflets bearing different franchises. At York the other day, I counted at least 5 different brands each with their own logos, house styles and font. Do we really need all this duplication ?

I'm pretty sure that the BR symbol is the one which everyone recognises - however much money is wasted on fancy company-specific branding.

 

[Greenback]

Yes, it's been an iconic image for over forty years in the UK. Variations on the basic design have also been used by other railway administrations, such as NS in Holland.

 

[yorkie]

Did First save money on licensing when they tried to ditch the Thameslink name? Although they no longer use the term Thameslink as a brand name, it is used as a route name but they really don't like using the name any more.

If so, this does prove my theory that the DfT are attempting to profit at the expense of passengers easily being able to identify their train service.