Joona Jalkanen makes well-known Finnish trademarks.
Joona Jalkanen tells HS that it is not a new phenomenon. Mikko Räsänen
Iskelmä legend Kari Tapio’s son Joona Jalkanen registers Finnish artists as EU trademarks through his company, says Helsingin Sanomat.
According to the magazine, J. Jalkanen Oy has registered its trademarks, among other things Veskuthe names of Vesa-Matti Loir and Paula Koivuniemi and the words “Olen suomalainen” known from Kari Tapio’s song.
Son of Koivuniemi Toni Lehti tells HS that he is the beneficial owner of his mother’s trademark. Loiri’s daughter Jenni Loiri, on the other hand, says that she has not given her consent to Jalkanen’s registration.
– The trademark acquired for my father’s name sounds so ridiculous, especially when it was done by a person outside the family completely unrelated to my father, Jenni Loiri writes to HS.
According to the newspaper, the Vesa-Matti Loiri and Vesku trademarks were transferred from Jalkanen’s company to Loiri’s ex-wife at the beginning of the year Riitta Loirin management.
Esa Nieminen says that he is worried about the phenomenon where any unknown person can register an artist’s name as a trademark, in which case works cannot be made without the owner’s permission.
– Well, this is not a completely new phenomenon, after all. Artist families make these trademarks so that they can control the rights. It’s exciting that we’re waking up to it right now, Jalkanen states.
The Patent and Registration Board According to
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), located in Spain, is responsible for registration. A trademark is applied for directly from the EUIPO via an electronic application form. The EU trademark is valid for ten years from the date of application, after which it can be renewed.