James Bond in battle to keep hold of 007 super spy’s name

Exclusive: Dubai-based property developer is challenging trademark registrations, including the saying Bond, James Bond'

The owners of the multibillion-pound James Bond franchise are embroiled in a fight to keep control of the super spy's name, after a Dubai-based property developer filed claims in the UK and Europe that they are not using the trademark across a range of goods and services.

The Austrian businessman Josef Kleindienst, who is building a $5bn luxury resort complex called the Heart of Europe on six human-made islands just off the coast of Dubai, has filed a slew of what are known officially as cancellation actions based on non-use" targeting the James Bond name.