Latest news with #Eon
Euronews
4 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
James Bond in danger: Why is 007 under threat from a property tycoon?
He's gone up against nefarious and shadowy organisations, as well as cat-stroking megalomaniacs with plans for world domination. However, the world's most famous secret agent may have met his match with an Austrian property developer by the name of Josef Kleindienst. Indeed, the founder of the Kleindienst Group is challenging trademark registrations relating to the James Bond franchise, including '007' and the iconic expression 'Bond, James Bond'. Not even Blofeld would stoop so low... The property tycoon, who is building a $5bn luxury resort complex called the Heart of Europe on six artificial islands off Dubai, has filed claims in the UK and Europe to take control of the James Bond name, arguing that the trademarks have been commercially underexploited. For Kleindienst, the 'non-use' means that various protections around James Bond's intellectual property have expired. To be fair, what does one expect from a man whose name literally translates as "small service"? Under UK and European law, if a trademark is not commercially exploited for five years in the categories for which it is registered, it may be subject to revocation proceedings. James Bond owners Danjaq, the US company that controls the rights to sell James Bond merchandise worldwide in conjunction with UK production company Eon, say the legal battle launched by the property developer to get his hands on the James Bond trademarks is 'an unprecedented assault on the franchise,' reports The Guardian. Lawyers representing Danjaq are gathering evidence to prove that the trademarks are still being commercialised, arguing that Kleindienst's 'non-use' challenges represent "abuse of process'. And a lot is at stake... 'James Bond is a trademark of the highest reputation in the EU,' said Rudolf Böckenholt at Boehmert & Boehmert, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in Europe, representing Danjaq. 'The trademarks are also licensed for numerous consumer products and merchandise products, ranging from very luxurious products to everyday products, as well as further services.' The context makes this 'assault' delicate in the extreme. The last Bond film was in 2021 with Daniel Craig's swansong as 007 in No Time To Die. Since then, the franchise was acquired by Amazon for $8.5bn, with more than $1bn spent to get full 'creative control' of the series from longtime 007 stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. While Amy Pascal and David Heyman have been announced as the producers of the next Bond film, no release date, director or lead actor has been confirmed. We reported last year that one candidate may have the edge over countless others and last month, an unlikely source may have confirmed it and let the vodka martini-swigging cat out of the bag. Still, no official announcement as to the identity of the new 007. The period of inactivity also means that the franchise is on track to beat the longest ever recorded gap between two instalments: six years and four months. Something of a godsend for any Blofelds-in-the-making wishing to argue that the brand has been 'commercially unexploited'. So, as fans wait for James Bond to finally return to the big screen, the superspy's greatest battle is shaping up to be a legal one.
Glasgow Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Energy Price Cap warning as price set to increase in October
This follows a similar rise in April, and a cut to come in July, but will still come as a blow to customers, who face increasing bill prices and rising food costs. Martin Lewis says: "The latest predictions from Eon, British Gas & EDF have just come out. All are up on a week ago when it was predicted Oct would stay roughly the same as now (we're now 1/3 of the way through the Oct Cap assessment period). "Much of this is on the back of the rise in energy wholesale prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. Current predictions range - Up 1.6%-2.8% Oct - Up c.1% on top of that in Jan - Up c.3% on top of that next April Though the further out you go the more crystal ball gazing it is." Not great news. The Energy Price Cap now predicted to RISE about 2% or 3% in October. The latest predictions from Eon, British Gas & EDF have just come out. All are up on a week ago when it was predicted Oct would stay roughly the same as now (we're now 1/3 of the way through… — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 17, 2025 What is the energy price cap? The term is quite confusing and it's important to note it's not the maximum price you will pay - it's an average. If you use more, you will pay more. The cap was introduced on January 1 2019 by regulator Ofgem, with the aim of preventing the millions of households on expensive variable tariffs from being ripped off. But it only limits what you pay for each unit of gas and electricity that you use. It's based roughly on wholesale energy prices (those that firms pay) and applies only to providers' standard and default tariffs, which the vast majority of households are now on. Recommended reading: Warm Home Discount There is some better news for those on very low incomes this winter, with an expansion of the £150 Warm Home Discount to 2.7m more low income households winter 2025/26. Martin Lewis added: "It'll be done by getting rid of the 'high energy cost' criteria for those on means tested benefits like Universal Credit (which helps working people and non working on low incomes). "That's good as it's a terribly implemented system which left many, literally, unfairly out in the cold."
South Wales Argus
18-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Energy Price Cap warning as price set to increase in October
This follows a similar rise in April, and a cut to come in July, but will still come as a blow to customers, who face increasing bill prices and rising food costs. Martin Lewis says: "The latest predictions from Eon, British Gas & EDF have just come out. All are up on a week ago when it was predicted Oct would stay roughly the same as now (we're now 1/3 of the way through the Oct Cap assessment period). "Much of this is on the back of the rise in energy wholesale prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. Current predictions range - Up 1.6%-2.8% Oct - Up c.1% on top of that in Jan - Up c.3% on top of that next April Though the further out you go the more crystal ball gazing it is." Not great news. The Energy Price Cap now predicted to RISE about 2% or 3% in October. The latest predictions from Eon, British Gas & EDF have just come out. All are up on a week ago when it was predicted Oct would stay roughly the same as now (we're now 1/3 of the way through… — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 17, 2025 What is the energy price cap? The term is quite confusing and it's important to note it's not the maximum price you will pay - it's an average. If you use more, you will pay more. The cap was introduced on January 1 2019 by regulator Ofgem, with the aim of preventing the millions of households on expensive variable tariffs from being ripped off. But it only limits what you pay for each unit of gas and electricity that you use. It's based roughly on wholesale energy prices (those that firms pay) and applies only to providers' standard and default tariffs, which the vast majority of households are now on. Recommended reading: Warm Home Discount There is some better news for those on very low incomes this winter, with an expansion of the £150 Warm Home Discount to 2.7m more low income households winter 2025/26. Martin Lewis added: "It'll be done by getting rid of the 'high energy cost' criteria for those on means tested benefits like Universal Credit (which helps working people and non working on low incomes). "That's good as it's a terribly implemented system which left many, literally, unfairly out in the cold."
Extra.ie
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Huge Irish star tipped for major role in new Bond movie
An Irish Hollywood superstar is said to be the bookies' choice for the next James Bond movie. Although there have been no official announcements about the cast as yet, or even a date set to begin filming, producers are said to be keen to hurry things along to get the action underway. Its been too long since the last Bond Movie hit cinema screens, bringing with it mixed emotions as Daniel Craig bowed out in his role as Bond in the 2021 movie No Time To Die, leaving fans emotional as he says farewell to the character. Pic: MGM/Eon/Danjaq/UPI/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock But attention has now turned to the famous villains of the Bond franchise, and things are hotting up in bookies circles with a huge Irish star tipped to play the next Bond nasty. Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy is topping the list to play Bond's next nemesis, according to the Online Betting Guide list, with strong odds of 9/2. The Irish actor – best known for playing Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, had previously been touted for the actual role of James Bond, but he quashed rumours, telling Deadline: 'I think I'm a bit old for that.' Cillian Murphy. Pic: Lodovico Colli di Felizzano/WWD via Getty Images While no official confirmations about star castings have been made to date, speculation about who will be the next James Bond has been heating up in recent weeks. British actors Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Henry Cavill have been linked to the role, but nothing has been set in stone as yet. Also in the running for the part of Bond villain, are American actor Paul Giamatti at odds of 11/2, as well as Boogeyman star David Dastmalchian 13/2, and a very unusual choice in movie circles, an unlikely contender for the role, actress Zendaya at odds of 7/1.
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
James Bond franchise owners request more time to defend control of 007 spy name
The owners of the multibillion-pound James Bond franchise have requested more time to mount their defence to keep control of the super spy's name in Europe, after a legal challenge to their trademark rights across a range of goods and services. In February, the Guardian revealed that a Dubai-based property developer had filed claims in the UK and EU arguing that lack of use meant various protections had lapsed around James Bond's intellectual property, including his name, his 007 assignation and the catchphrase 'Bond, James Bond'. Nearly all the actions relate to the merchandising of goods and services under the Bond name, which can be challenged after five years of 'non-use'. Josef Kleindienst, an Austrian who is building a $5bn luxury resort complex called the Heart of Europe on six artificial islands off Dubai, has argued the trademarks have been commercially under-exploited . Daniel Craig's last outing as 007, No Time to Die, was released in 2021 and with no announcement yet of his replacement or timeline for production of the next film, the franchise is on track to beat the previous longest gap between instalments of six years and four months. The Bond trademarks are registered to the US-based company Danjaq, which controls the rights to worldwide James Bond merchandising in conjunction with the UK-based production company Eon. Danjaq had an initial 60 days to file its defence of the trademarks after the challenge. It has done so with the UK Intellectual Property Office, but has requested more time to file in the EU. 'As a general rule, any initial unilateral request for an extension that is received in time will be considered appropriate and will be granted,' said the EU Intellectual Property Office in a filing extending the deadline. However, it added that it was highly unlikely to grant a further extension beyond mid-June 'unless there are exceptional circumstances'. Danjaq also co-owns the copyright to the existing James Bond films, along with MGM Studios, which was acquired by Amazon for $8.5bn in 2021. Days after the report of Kleindienst's legal challenges, it emerged that Amazon had paid more than $1bn to gain full 'creative control' of the James Bond franchise from Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, the longtime stewards of the Bond films. With creative control, Amazon now has the power to move forward with new films and potentially TV spin-offs too, without approval from the two British-American heirs to the film producer Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli, who had overseen the integrity of the character originally created in 1953 by the author Ian Fleming. In March, Amazon confirmed that Amy Pascal and David Heyman would steer the next Bond film, although no release date or lead actor has yet been named. Pascal has experience with the Bond series in her previous position as Sony's chair of film, overseeing Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. She also had producer credits on the latest Spider-Man series. Heyman is best known as the producer of all Harry Potter films as well as the Fantastic Beasts franchise and is now in pre-production on the much-anticipated HBO TV series adaptation of the stories. He is the second most commercially successful film producer of all time, with credits including Gravity, Paddington, Barbie, Wonka and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
