Few attractions are as popular as the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
An estimated 10 million tourists visit this one-of-a-kind destination each year, with many snapping photos of their favorite celebrity’s star. That’s to be expected. But when a company seeks to profit by linking its project to images or trademarks associated with the Walk of Fame, it must be protected.
That’s where the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce comes in. The Chamber administers the Walk of Fame and holds all rights to trademarks and service marks associated with it. And the organization wants to make clear that it has not approved, nor has any affiliation with, the “Dubai Stars” project which the creators claim will be a walk of fame in downtown Dubai.
“We acknowledge and respect EMAAR Properties and city of Dubai’s right to host the ‘Dubai Stars,'” Chamber President and CEO Rana Ghadban said. “But we ask that EMAAR and anyone connected to ‘Dubai Stars’ refrain from promoting the project in association with, or using any images of, our Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
In 2018, the Chamber entered into a trademark license agreement with Milestones S.A.R.L. to develop a walk of fame project of its own in the United Arab Emirates and wider Middle East region. Global Icons LLC, the Chamber’s exclusive, worldwide merchandising and licensing agent, administers and enforces all existing licenses related to the Hollywood Walk of Fame property.
“We have represented the Chamber in licensing and intellectual property matters for over 20 years,” Global Icons CEO Jeff Lotman said. “The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a valuable trademark and it is important to protect the Chamber’s proprietary rights to this property around the world.”
Milestones S.A.R.L. is the Chamber’s exclusive Arabian Walk of Fame licensee and has a valid license to use the Chamber’s derivative mark in the United Arab Emirates.
“For a year, we have been in negotiations to obtain approval for the Arabian Walk of Fame project and for its location in Dubai,” said Albert Bamboukian, CEO of Milestones S.A.R.L.
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Photo Credit: Gabriele Maltinti / Shutterstock.com