A woman who changed her middle name to "Skywalker" has been unable to apply for a new passport because the UK Home Office has stated that it "will not recognise a change to a name which is subject to copyright or trademark". Laura Matthews, 29, changed her name by deed poll in 2008 "for a bit of a laugh". She recently tried to renew her passport and amended her signature to "L. Skywalker".
"We have a duty to ensure the reputation of the UK passport is not called into question or disrepute," a spokesman said.
Despite the recent problems with her passport, she does not regret her decision.
She has been told she might have to submit a new passport form with her old signature, but would be able to keep her new name on the document.
So why did they let her change her name 6 years ago?
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 02 2014, @12:09AM
I mean, seriously . . .
(Score: 2) by frojack on Saturday August 02 2014, @12:51AM
Deed Poll http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deed_poll [wikipedia.org] is not in any way connected to the UK Home Office is my guess.
Its probably reviewed no higher than the local magistrate.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by jd678 on Saturday August 02 2014, @10:38AM
Not even that. A deed poll has no "review" at any level. It's just a bit of paper saying this is my new name and I intend to use it exclusively from now on. We don't run a system here where you need "permission" to change your name, so there's no official office involved at all.
Strictly speaking you don't even need a deed poll but most places will refuse to change their records without one.
You're not allowed to use a name for fraudulent purposes though, but this would only be picked up well after actually changing your name.
(Score: 4, Funny) by cafebabe on Saturday August 02 2014, @12:52AM
That's going to be a problem for the 300 people per year [soylentnews.org] who change their name to John Smith [ipo.gov.uk].
1702845791×2
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Saturday August 02 2014, @04:45AM
I wonder what they do for the artist formerly known as Prince.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 2) by davester666 on Saturday August 02 2014, @07:54AM
He's rich and not a nobody. Different rules apply.
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Saturday August 02 2014, @08:34AM
Sad, but true.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 03 2014, @07:10PM
(Score: 4, Interesting) by MrNemesis on Saturday August 02 2014, @08:45AM
A classic from 1999 [theguardian.com]:
Although to be fair I don't know if Michael Yorkshire Bank Plc are Fascist Bastards applied for a passport, I can't see why the passport office would be able to deny you using your legal name whether or not it contains a trademark. There's a fair few McDonalds in Scotland for example...
"To paraphrase Nietzsche, I have looked into the abyss and been sick in it."
(Score: 1) by datapharmer on Sunday August 03 2014, @12:26PM
6 years ago it was fine, but the mouse owns the rights to it now and we all know the whatever the mouse wants, the mouse gets.