BRG.photography / Shutterstock.com
Football club Manchester City was pipped to the post in revealing its new badge design after it was first published by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
Supporters had been consulted about creating a fresh design and the new crest was set to be revealed on Boxing Day, December 26.
But an image of the new badge was found on the IPO’s website two days before. The page lists the trademark filing date as December 22.
The IPO said the release of the image was standard practice for all trademark applications.
A spokesperson for the IPO told WIPR: "The logo in question was made available on the IPO's website. Trademark applications must be made publically available in order to provide rights holders with an opportunity to challenge other trademarks if they have grounds to do so."
Manchester City, trademark, badge, intellectual property office, UK Intellectual Property Office
