Prince Harry's UK arrival marred by charity trademark troubles

Prince Harry's recent effort has encountered hurdles in the United States, coinciding with his preparations for delivering a speech at the Invictus Games in London.

The Duke of Sussex has been working to obtain a trademark in America for his charity, Sentebale, co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006.

The charity's mission is to provide support to children and adolescents in Lesotho and Botswana, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS, through various initiatives including healthcare, education, life skills, advocacy, vocational training, and climate resilience efforts. 

According to Royal commentator Richard Eden at the Daily Mail, the Prince's plans have faced setbacks due to trademark complications in the US, temporarily hindering expansion efforts in America.

Harry's aspirations included securing a trademark for Sentebale across multiple categories such as 'mental healthcare services', 'psychological and mental health counseling services', 'provision of immunizations', 'campaigning', 'organizing conferences, seminars, courses, workshops, and other events', as well as 'production of audio and/or video recordings'.

The US Patent and Trademark Office, although acknowledging the absence of conflicting trademarks, has declined the application.

In its decision, it highlights that many categories lack sufficient definition, frequently citing them as "considered too vague."

Additionally, it dismisses the use of "and/or," stating that the term is "generally not accepted."

The ruling specifies that these deficiencies need correction within six months, emphasizing the necessity for the application to explicitly outline the goods and services associated with the trademark's use in commerce.