Wolverhampton Wanderers are proud to have passionate fans who want to wear the badge. Unfortunately, this loyalty is sometimes exploited by people who unofficially use the club’s name and image to promote their own products.
The club thinks this is wrong and puts a lot of work into protecting the Wolverhampton Wanderers brand to ensure that fans have their support rewarded on and off the pitch.
What is brand protection?
When people produce and sell Wolverhampton Wanderers branded goods without authorisation, they are using the club’s intellectual property. The club has registered a range of intellectual property rights, including the logos and words below, in order to retain control over the quality of merchandise and services which the club is associated with.
Brand protection is the part of the club’s work which focuses in stopping individuals and companies from using these intellectual property rights unofficially, especially when their goal is to profit without contributing to the club’s success or to fans’ enjoyment.
Trademarks
Wordmarks
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Molineux
Wolves
Why protect the brand?
Unofficial products are often of poor quality and have been manufactured in circumstances which the club has no sight of. This means that for fans who purchase these products there may be disappointment, safety concerns and limited consumer rights.
In addition, the money made by the sale of official merchandise goes into making the club better for all, from the fans who enjoy a world-class matchday experience to the community charities which the club is proud to support.
For these reason Wolverhampton Wanderers asks that fans only purchase official club products.
What if you want to produce a product that uses the club’s intellectual property?
All enquiries concerning the use of club trademarks should be directed to brandprotection@wolves.co.uk. If the club has not agreed to a relationship with you then you should consider that you do not have permission to produce or sell merchandise that bears these marks. This includes the production of samples to show your manufacturing capabilities.
Who do we work with?
To protect the intellectual property rights of the club, we regularly work with Trading Standards, the police and UK Border Force. In order to deter counterfeiters we also work with the brand protection agency Back Four Ltd, who police the physical and online market place for infringing club product and initiate action.
How can you help?
Wolverhampton Wanderers encourage fans to report any instances of counterfeiting or brand abuse they become aware of by emailing brandprotection@wolves.co.uk.
All information will be treated with the strictest confidence and only shared with trusted law enforcement colleagues.
