Oxford University has applied to trademark the word “Oxford” ahead of Brexit to secure exclusive rights to use it on products such as stickers, pencils, DVDs and even Bibles.
The bid for exclusive use of the city’s name has been made by Oxford University Press (OUP) and will go live within three months unless formal opposition is mounted.
The publisher said that it had submitted the application as a “precautionary step” in response to “ongoing uncertainty around Brexit”.
The trademark would not necessarily jeopardise the rights to use “Oxford” in print or on products: in any legal dispute over usage, it would come down to a “reasonable view” as to whether there was any confusion with the trademark owners.
It would be valid for ten