Skywalker Passport: Britain Rejects Request Over Trademarked Name

A passport application by a woman who added Skywalker as her middle name was rejected in England because of trademark concerns.

According to the BBC, Laura Matthews became Laura Elizabeth Skywalker Matthews in 2008 after joking about it with friends, and her new signature “L. Skywalker” is included on documents such as her driver’s license and bank cards. But England’s Home Office "will not recognize a change to a name which is subject to copyright or trademark," a spokesperson told the BBC.

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"We have a duty to ensure the reputation of the U.K. passport is not called into question or disrepute," the spokesperson added.

Earlier this month, The Mirror reported that a 34-year-old man who changed his name from Dominic Kimberley to Han Solo also couldn’t get a passport.

Twitter users seemed incredulous.

'Skywalker' signature rejected by passport officials http://t.co/gidu1ajl8U <-- The reason given makes no sense. Over-reaching bureacrats?

— Simon Phipps (@webmink) July 30, 2014

Lady cannot have Skywalker on her passport name because it infringes a trademark http://t.co/kLZ7H3Wdk5 What about the McDonalds out there?

— Charles Oppenheim (@CharlesOppenh) July 30, 2014

Did not know that UK passport officials were IP enforcers. Woman told her Skywalker signature infringes trademark. http://t.co/QlQis9GqR0

— Ellen 't Hoen (@ellenthoen) July 30, 2014

That's really unfair! Such a cool name choice. BBC News - 'Skywalker' signature rejected by passport officials http://t.co/5mN0eX8Jbl

— Leena Gupte (レーナ) (@LeenaG) July 30, 2014

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