At least 117 takedown requests for TT trademark infringement have been made since 2017.

An Isle of Man Examiner Freedom of Information request has revealed how the Department of Enterprises seeks to protect the TT brand around the world.

It contracts Belfast-based Evershed Sutherland Ltd to act as advisors on infringement of its trademarks, including the TT.

There are three different types of infringement which could lead to action. Firstly, direct unlicensed use of trademark. Secondly, organisations or individuals attempt to register trademarks that be considered similar or the same as the DfE’s. Thirdly, where they are successful in registering trademarks.

In response to our FoI, DfE said: ’Unfortunately we do not retain information on every product "takedown" request, but since January 1, 2017, at least 117 takedown requests have been filed.

’A takedown request will normally be filed with the platform on which the product or misuse is on, such as Facebook or eBay. On occasion the use has been regularised through an agreement.’

Since January 2017, the DfE has given instructions 34 times due to third party trademark applications. In each of these instances, either action has been taken or an agreement was reached with the applicant.

There have also been 17 instances where instructions have been given and either action taken or an agreement reached because of potential trademark infringement claims against third parties.

The department said that the issue of trademark infringement is ’generally worldwide’, however this is circumvented by approaching the platform which is hosting the products as opposed to the business themselves.

In its response to our FoI, the DfE included some examples of when it has taken action for various trademark infractions.

These have included against the University of Bath.

Other issues have included a wide range of websites which have sought to create logos that are similar to those used in conjunction with the TT.

Some of the claims, for which the DfE has provided little extra information, include UK-based Breeze House Designs Ltd, which sought to have a TT logo for its Tailored Textiles and a Chinese company called Wenzhou Midali Pet Product Co. It came to an arrangement with them and will not take further action.

However, in other instances, the department has been successful in having names which infringe on the TT trademark stopped.

These have include a plan for a Welsh TT and the Warrington Transport Trail Half Marathon.

On the island in recent years, the department has been involved in rows with Bushy’s Brewery, where it eventually reached an agreement, and Looney’s of Ramsey, which was forced to stop selling shirts it had made which included the letters TT on them.