Got the right to the trademark “Dynamit-Harry” • Wants to stop the new Jönssonligan film
Ulf Brunnberg has obtained the right to the trademark after a dispute “Dynamite Harry”.
Now he wants to stop the upcoming Jönssonligan film.
But SF believes that the decision does not prevent them.
“It is a common misconception that a trademark registration can be used to stop a film,” says Kristina Linglöf at SF Studios to TV4.
In December, the new film about the Jönsson League premieres in cinemas. In “Jönssonligan comes back”, the classic roles are played by Robert Gustafsson (Charles-Ingvar “Sickan” Jönsson), Jonas Karlsson (Vanheden), Anders Jansson (Dynamit-Harry) and Jennie Silfverhjelm (Doris).
The film is produced by FLX and Tonefilm in co-production with SF Studios.
But now there is one person hoping to stop the film. Ulf Brunnberg, who played Ragnar Vanheden in the original films, tried to register the trademark “Dynamit-Harry” last year.
The actor was then rejected by the Patent and Registration Office. But after appealing the authority’s decision, he was vindicated in the Stockholm district court on Tuesday.
– It is now up to the distributors to decide what to do, because I am not very keen on them broadcasting this new film without copyright. So it is my lawyer who drives this issue, together with me of course, but on my advice, says Ulf Brunnberg to The Express.
SF Studios that Ulf Brunnberg wants to stop the film
Kristina Linglöf at SF Studios explains that they haven’t had the opportunity to understand or analyze the decision yet.
“I can briefly say that it is a common misconception that a trademark registration can be used to stop a film. Having a character called “Dynamit-Harry” in a film is not trademark use and therefore not trademark infringement either,” says Kristina Linglöf to TV4.
“Dynamit-Harry has been used as the name of a character in Jönssonligan productions for over 40 years. The fact that Ulf Brunnberg has now registered Dynamit-Harry as a trademark is not something that we consider prevents us from continuing to use this name for the film character, or that Ulf Brunnberg has any rights that are infringed by this,” she continues.
Right now SF’s lawyers are looking at the whole thing and Kristina Linglöf says they will talk to Ulf Brunnberg.
“Our intention is still to release the film as planned in December. It is a fantastic film that we are convinced will reach and entertain a large audience,” says Kristina further.