. Professor Stephen Hawking is an English theoretical physicist who has filed to trademark his name with the Intellectual Property Office. Brian Cox is a professor of particle Physics at the School of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Manchester. The trademark can be a term, phrase, sign or symbol that distinguishes one person’s source from others. Interview with Sunday Times: A spokesperson for University of Cambridge said that the application was “a personal matter for Stephen Hawking. It is not an issue at university, but he took measures to protect his name, and the success it brought him.” Prof. Hawking has become a worldwide celebrity both among scientists and laypeople. Hawking is a household name across all socioeconomic groups. Stephen Hawking submitted two trademark applications. The one above and the other for printed publications. Image source: Intellectual Property Office. He’s appeared in movies and TV series as either an actor, a synthesized voice or as part of holograms. The biographical Oscar-winning film ‘The Theory of Everything’ featured his trademarked artificial voice. In 1993, Professor Hawking was a holographic representation of himself during an episode on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Also, he has appeared on The Big Bang Theory as well as The Simpsons. The synthesized voice of 1993, Hawking was used in the recording of Pink Floyd’s song “Keep Talking”. The person and the name Stephen Hawking have been featured in numerous advertising campaigns to promote Specsavers and British Telecom. T-shirts, mugs, and men’s underpants have all featured Stephen Hawking. Professor Hawking applied for two trademarks. One focuses on electronic hardware and computer software, while the other is aimed at books or publications. Professor Hawking is committed to protecting his name, whether it’s used to create powered wheelchairs or computer software/hardware. He also wants to help charities by promoting his name. Professor Hawking wants people and companies to not exploit his name for inappropriate products. This is a step many celebrities have taken, such as David Beckham (famous ex-football/soccer player), and J. K. Rowling (“Harry Potter” author). According to trademark lawyers, Professor Hawking’s action could have a huge economic impact.
