James Bond Owners Criticize Name Dispute as Franchise Assault

The owners of the James Bond franchise are defending their trademarks against an Austrian businessman, Josef Kleindienst, who claims that the lack of use of certain Bond trademarks has led to their lapse, in what they describe as an unprecedented legal assault. Kleindienst has also applied for his own Bond trademarks in Europe, but not in the UK, prompting legal challenges from Danjaq, the rights holder. Meanwhile, Amazon has gained full control over the franchise, with plans for new films and TV series, although the legal disputes over trademarks continue to unfold.