Refusal of trademark bid by former Commodores member is upheld by UK court

By Melissa Ritti ( October 26, 2026, 12:40 GMT | Insight) -- A co-founder of The Commodores has lost an appeal against the refusal of his company’s efforts to register a trademark in the UK for the band’s name. The High Court on Friday upheld findings of passing off and bad faith, rejecting Thomas McClary’s position that the original partnership’s rights prevented Commodore Entertainment Corporation from acquiring its own goodwill.A co-founder of The Commodores soul music band has failed to overturn the refusal of his company’s UK trademark application for the band’s name, with the High Court in London upholding findings that the bid conflicted with existing goodwill and was made in bad faith....

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