6yo Girl's Passport Application Rejected Due to Her Name?

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6yo Girl's Passport Application Rejected Due to Her Name?

A woman felt "devastated" when her daughter's passport application was turned down because her daughter shares a name with a Game of Thrones character.

Lucy, 39, from Swindon in Wiltshire, explained that the Passport Office initially denied the application for six-year-old Khaleesi.

Officials stated they couldn't issue a passport without permission from Warner Brothers, who owns the trademark for the name. However, the authority has since apologized for the mistake.

"I was absolutely devastated, we were so looking forward to our first holiday together," Lucy expressed.

Lucy had named her daughter Khaleesi after a character from Game of Thrones.

After meticulously planning and saving for a dream trip to Disneyland Paris, Lucy, who works in Cirencester, applied for a passport for Khaleesi.

"But then I received a letter from the Passport Office, saying her name is trademarked by Warner Brothers," she recounted. 

"It was the first I'd heard of such a thing - I was astonished."

Pic: BBC

Seeking legal advice, her solicitors found out that while Game of Thrones has a trademark, it applies to goods and services, not personal names.

"That information was sent to the Passport Office, who then said I would need a letter from Warner Brothers to confirm my daughter can use that name," she explained.

"I didn't understand and felt frustrated. If she could get a birth certificate, wouldn't something have been flagged up then? I never thought you could trademark a name," she added.

The Passport Office has since contacted Lucy to apologize and stated that a mistake had been made.

An official explained there had been a misunderstanding, and the initial guidance applies only to people changing their names.

"He advised me that they should be able to process my daughter's passport now," she said.

However, Lucy believes the issue was only resolved due to media coverage.

"If I hadn't posted this on social media, nothing would have been done. I would have been stuck, not knowing what to do. People contacted me about similar experiences," she said.

Lucy and Khaleesi are still waiting for the passport to arrive. Meanwhile, they are hopeful they can visit Disneyland Paris soon. Lucy has delayed booking the holiday until all passports have been received.

A Home Office spokesperson stated: "We can confirm the application is being processed and apologize to the family for the delay."

Source: BBC

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