Julian Assange seeks to register name as trademark

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Lawyers for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are seeking to register his name as an entertainment services trademark in Britain.

The application seeks to protect his name in public speaking services, news reporter services, journalism, the publication of texts other than publicity texts, education services and entertainment services, The Australian quoted London newspaper The Guardian as reporting on Wednesday.

But the initiative by the 39-year-old Australian of having his name registered as a trademark has been described by many as "bizarre" in light of the freedom of information lobbying, for which he has become internationally known.

Lawyer Mark Stephens, for Assange, said the application to Britain's Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has been made in a not-for-profit category.

"It's not about restricting free speech," Stephens told The Guardian.

"It's not that he's out there trying to make huge amounts of money. It's about protecting himself from being associated with things he doesn't know about or approve of."

The application has received a mixed response.

"It's a bizarre thing for someone associated with freedom of information to do," London law firm Preiskel and Co's David Allen Green told The Guardian.

However, trademark attorney specialist Abida Chaudri said the application is "quite logical".

"I suspect the application is more to do with his going it alone and using his WikiLeaks website to publish material, as opposed to somebody else pretending to be Julian Assange, which is probably unlikely," she said.

The IPO could take months to make a ruling on Assange's application.