1/. I often chat to Gus who sells chestnuts on the Heath, but I only recently heard his story
In 2007, he & his wife Inez, got news most people only ever dream of
A TV company made them a multi-million pound offer to use their trademark ‘Golden Balls’.
In 2007, he & his wife Inez, got news most people only ever dream of
A TV company made them a multi-million pound offer to use their trademark ‘Golden Balls’.
2/. Golden Balls was the nickname Inez had given Gus when they'd met & he'd been a keen footballer
They used the name for their clothes shop/product line
When @victoriabeckham revealed David had the same nickname they contacted the Beckhams to checked there were no legal issues
They used the name for their clothes shop/product line
When @victoriabeckham revealed David had the same nickname they contacted the Beckhams to checked there were no legal issues
3/. They licensed the name "Golden Balls" to Endemol to use in the Jasper Carrott-fronted ITV game show
By 2007, the show as was more popular than Deal Or No Deal
It had just been recommissioned & was about to be sold around the globe
Gus & Inez were going to be very wealthy.
By 2007, the show as was more popular than Deal Or No Deal
It had just been recommissioned & was about to be sold around the globe
Gus & Inez were going to be very wealthy.
4/. Then on Christmas Eve, 2007, they got a fax
The media group which owns the trademark for
FIFA's Ballon D’Or were claiming Golden Balls infringed their copyright!
The copyright court, threw the case out, but the Ballon D'Or appealed
An expensive 6-year legal battle ensued.
The media group which owns the trademark for
FIFA's Ballon D’Or were claiming Golden Balls infringed their copyright!
The copyright court, threw the case out, but the Ballon D'Or appealed
An expensive 6-year legal battle ensued.
5/. Gus & Inez kept winning, but the Ballon D'Or had deep pockets & they kept appealing
Finally in 2013, the case reached Europe's top court, & they won
The media covered their victory (see @CharleneWhite @BBCLondonNews👇)
But their ordeal was not over.
Finally in 2013, the case reached Europe's top court, & they won
The media covered their victory (see @CharleneWhite @BBCLondonNews👇)
But their ordeal was not over.
6/. Outside Luxembourg court, Gus tells me he spotted the Ballon D'Or's legal representative & went over to talk to her
"She told me what she'd told my lawyers: that they would settle the case. And she also asked me to 'please stop talking to the media'. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2…
"She told me what she'd told my lawyers: that they would settle the case. And she also asked me to 'please stop talking to the media'. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2…
7/. On top of the injustice they had already inflicted, the owners of Ballon D'Or trademark did NOT settle
Almost 8 years on, Gus is selling chestnuts
Endermol got cold feet & pulled out of the TV deal
Their shop went bust when big legal costs meant they couldn’t pay the lease
Almost 8 years on, Gus is selling chestnuts
Endermol got cold feet & pulled out of the TV deal
Their shop went bust when big legal costs meant they couldn’t pay the lease
8/. After the court victory, the media circus packed up & moved on
Gus & Inez struggled on
“The stress of it all has had massive the impact my family,” says Gus
For a summary of the trademark legal issues, this recent @BeckGreener article is useful.
beckgreener.com/golden-balls-b…
Gus & Inez struggled on
“The stress of it all has had massive the impact my family,” says Gus
For a summary of the trademark legal issues, this recent @BeckGreener article is useful.
beckgreener.com/golden-balls-b…
9/. After 13 years, Gus & Inez have had some stuffing knocked out of them, but they’ve not given up the fight
The've set up the #Justice4GoldenBalls campaign @Justice4GB
JOURNALISTS: Gus will be selling chestnuts by the café on Hampstead Heath on Sat/Sun facebook.com/media/set/?van…
The've set up the #Justice4GoldenBalls campaign @Justice4GB
JOURNALISTS: Gus will be selling chestnuts by the café on Hampstead Heath on Sat/Sun facebook.com/media/set/?van…
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