HC Deb 27 November 1997 vol 301 c614W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions are placed on registered charities controlling the use of their title, style or logo by their subsidiary trading companies or other associates in(a) promoting, (b) marketing and (c) selling goods or services unrelated to their declared charitable aims. [18048]

Mr. Michael

There are no such restrictions. It is for the trustees of a charity to determine how its title, style or logo could be used by its subsidiary. Charity trustees are obliged to act in the best interests of their charity. Consequently, they should ensure that any use of the logo by a trading subsidiary, or any other licensee, does not put the charity's funds at risk or being negative publicity to the charity.

Charities are permitted to the same legal protection for their intellectual property rights as any other person or body, and have the same powers as any other person or body to license others to exploit those rights, provided, of course, that the licensing arrangements are in the charity's interests (which includes economic interests).

The Charity Commission has certain powers to act to protect the property of a charity—including its intellectual property.