Mone’s storm in a D-cup
Bra Queen’s fury as her name’s included in trademarks sale
SHE became known as the ‘ Bra Queen’ after making her name in the lingerie world.
But now Tory peer Michelle Mone has been left furious after it emerged trademarks bearing her moniker are being sold off by liquidators of her old business.
Would-be buyers are being offered a ‘unique’ opportunity to use Baroness Mone of Mayfair’s name on products.
Terms up for grabs include ‘Michelle Mone’, ‘M-One’, ‘Michelle’s Secret’, ‘Michelle of Mayfair’, ‘Michelle Innovations’ and ‘Bra Queen’.
They are being offered by liquidators of her former bra firm Ultimo. The trademarks were taken out between June 2010 and July 2012 for lingerie and beauty products.
But the Glasgow-born Ultimo founder, 49, has insisted her name is not up for sale and claimed the auction was an attempt to ‘capitalise’ on her reputation.
Intellectual property consulting firm Metis Partners have been instructed by the liquidators of Ultimo, French Duncan, to sell the portfolio of trademarks on their behalf. They say the chance to purchase the trademarks bearing Baroness Mone’s name presents ‘significant’ licensing potential for any buyer.
Baroness Mone has insisted the trademarks are not the property of Ultimo and were never used by it or MJM International, the firm she ran with ex-husband Michael. They divorced in 2013.
Documents advertising the upcoming sale say: ‘ Metis Partners has been engaged by Brian Milne, of French Duncan, acting as liquidator of Ultimo Brands International Ltd (in liquidation) to sell a portfolio of trademarks belonging to the company. This is a unique opportunity.’
A statement issued by Baroness Mone’s legal team said she was aware of the sale of ‘certain trademarks’. It said: ‘My client objects to the marketing of the first five marks listed in the flyer.
‘These marks are not and have at no time been the property of Ultimo. The marks were never used by Ultimo nor by MJM International Limited.
‘The proposed sale advertised by the liquidator of Ultimo, who is acting on a members’ voluntary liquidation, that is to say, not an insolvent one, appears to be motivated by a desire to capitalise on my client’s reputation. It is clearly not intended to benefit creditors since there are none. It serves a private purpose.’
The statement added: ‘The flyer and proposed sale appear to be motivated by the company which purchased MJM from my client in 2013. That company appears, for reasons best known to its directors, to harbour a grudge against my client.’
The statement also said: ‘ My client, like anyone else, claims the right to her own identity. She has used her name in business for 22 years and has several trademark registrations of her own.
‘The commercial use or exploitation of the name Michelle Mone as a trademark or otherwise is not for sale and has never been.
This is the name of an individual and, as such, neither this name nor any variation of it, which may in the past have been registered as a trademark with Michelle Mone’s full consent, is or will ever, be for sale.
‘Michelle Mone’s legal team are currently taking all necessary legal steps to preserve this position to protect Michelle Mone’s legal rights.’
Baroness Mone was admitted to the House of Lords in 2015 as f ormer prime minister David Cameron’s business tsar.
‘Capitalise on her reputation’