牛津大學和私立學院“爭名”

最近，一家名爲“人文新學院”(New College of the Humanities)的學校在倫敦成立，並向英國知識產權局(Intellectual Property Office)申請註冊商標。爲了避免在名稱上的混淆，保護學院專有名稱和品牌，牛津大學新學院也向知識產權局申請註冊商標。雖然被稱爲新學院，但是牛津大學的新學院(New College)卻一點也不新，學院在1379年建立，到現在已經有632年曆史。知識產權局表示，很快就會對新學院的註冊商標做出決定。但是據信，如果人文新學院的註冊商標申請案進入公衆諮詢階段，牛津新學院將會提出反對。對此，私立的人文新學院大呼不公，並反駁兩所學院名稱有混淆的可能。

New College, Oxford is trying to trademark its name - ahead of a similar registration bid by the newly created, private New College of the Humanities.

The 632-year-old Oxford institution has submitted its bid to protect its brand to the Intellectual Property Office.

The New College of the Humanities, launched by philosopher AC Grayling, has also submitted its own bid to trademark its name.

The Intellectual Property Office says a decision on the Oxford bid is imminent.

But if the New College of the Humanities trademark bid reaches the public consultation stage, it is believed that New College, Oxford is considering opposing the registering of the name.

The New College of the Humanities (NCH)， which plans to admit students in London, rejected any suggestion of confusion between the two institutions.

"We are talking to New College, Oxford, but we don't think there is any confusion between New College of the Humanities and New College, Oxford, given their great heritage and NCH's distinct positioning around humanities and social sciences," said a spokeswoman.

Brand labels

The application from New College, Oxford is for protection of its full name - as the term "New College" is too broad to register separately. There are already several other "New Colleges" - such as New College, Swindon and New College, Nottingham.

Among the issues which will have to be considered by the Intellectual Property Office will be whether the New College of the Humanities, as a brand name, is sufficiently specific without its name including any location.

The New College, Oxford trademark application covers a wide range of uses.

As well as education services and published materials, the name would be protected for use on products including cufflinks, tankards, waste bins and umbrellas.

The Intellectual Property Office says that a decision on whether to accept the trademark application is imminent.

If successful, it would join a range of other universities which have already protected their brand names and logos.

Oxford University has already trademarked itself, in a form so comprehensive that it covers its use for underwear, hair lotions, bleaching preparations, fat removing agents and Christmas trees.

The trademarking for University College London makes sure that no-one can misuse its name in areas including preparations for destroying vermin, massage apparatus and clothing for animals.

The New College of the Humanities is a private institution being set up in London which will charge up to £18,000 per year in tuition fees.

It has already faced questions about how it is described - as it does not have official university or university college status. The website describes itself as offering a "university-level education".

Students at the college will be prepared for University of London degrees.

The high level of fees, announced at a time of protests over tuition fees, made the college and its founders a target for anti-cuts protesters.

A flare was released by protesters during a talk by Professor Grayling at a London bookshop.