Rebekah Vardy has suffered another setback following her defeat in the Wagatha Christie legal battle.
The 42-year-old WAG had hoped to profit from the courtroom saga by trademarking the name coined during her high-profile dispute with Coleen Rooney, who is currently appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
However, MailOnline understands that Rebekah has lost a challenge brought by luxury linen company Christy, preventing her from selling Wagatha Christie-branded towels and bed sheets.
The firm filed opposition papers with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office two years ago, challenging an application submitted by Rebekah’s representatives.
The company argued that the names were too alike and warned that Rebekah’s proposed business could damage its existing Christy trademark if she sold towels and bed linen under the Wagatha Christie name.
Rebekah’s updated filing with the IPO has now removed all references to towels and bed linen.
Rebekah Vardy has suffered another setback after her Wagatha Christie defeat, having hoped to profit from the name coined during her legal battle
Both parties submitted evidence about the possible conflict, but trademark lawyers at the government department ruled in favour of Wellspun UK, the company behind the premium Christy brand.
Trademark disputes can ultimately reach the High Court in London if the parties fail to reach an agreement. That was also the setting for Rebekah and Coleen Rooney’s libel battle.
Last year, it emerged that Rebekah still owed Coleen almost £2 million in legal costs after suing her rival for libel over claims that she had been leaking stories about Coleen and her family to the media.
The phrase was registered as a UK trademark in August 2022 through London Entertainment Inc Ltd, which submitted two applications on Rebekah’s behalf.
The first application, covering uses including broadcasting, beauty lotions, non-alcoholic drinks, jewellery, stationery and fashion design, was approved. The second, separate application was challenged by Wellspun.
On Monday, Coleen discussed the trial for the first time on I’m A Celebrity, despite reports that Rebekah had threatened legal action if her rival mentioned the case in the jungle.
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly quickly poked fun at Coleen’s legal battle with Rebekah, joking during Sunday’s launch show that there would be ‘plenty more’ to come.
Coleen told campmates GK Barry, Jane Moore and Dean McCullough that the trial ‘wasn’t a joke to her’.
The WAG had hoped to profit from the name coined during her high-profile battle with Coleen Rooney, who is currently appearing on I’m a Celebrity
Wagatha Christie is the widely used nickname for the £1.8 million court case between Coleen and Rebekah, which concluded in 2022.
The dispute began when Coleen published a widely shared Instagram post accusing Rebekah of leaking ‘false stories’ about her private life to the press.
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Rebekah denied the allegations and sued Coleen for libel. The case, later dubbed the Wagatha Christie trial, was decided in Coleen’s favour, leaving Rebekah liable for £1.5 million of her legal costs.
As the four celebrities sat around the creek getting to know one another, Dean once again raised the notorious case.
He asked: ‘Can you imagine if Princess Diana would have done a Wagatha Christie!’
Jane told Coleen: ‘That was epic though what you did!’
When GK asked whether she had been frightened to publish the post accusing Rebekah of leaking stories, Coleen said she had not been.
She explained: ‘No, because I just didn’t think it would have the impact it did. I was just that sick and tired of it; it was draining.
‘The fact that it carried on and carried on was the worst part. My worst nightmare was for it to go to court. She took me to court. I felt ashamed going to court because I’m not the type to play things out in public.
‘Going to court was my worst nightmare. I felt like I was putting on a show for the whole world.’
Coleen continued: ‘I just felt like it was putting on a show for the whole world. I didn’t want that; I wanted to settle it beforehand and get it over with.’
‘What upset me about the whole thing was that it became a bit of a joke, and that’s really disappointing. It wasn’t a joke for me.’
Last year, it emerged that Rebekah still owed Coleen almost £2 million in legal costs after suing her rival for libel
‘People were saying it was just two schoolgirls, but no one knew the full story.’
Just last month, Rebekah was ordered to pay £100,000 towards the outstanding sum.
Rebekah is also understood to be keeping a close watch on ITV bosses and presenters Ant and Dec, while reminding them that she owns the trademark for the phrase Wagatha Christie.
A source told the publication: ‘Becky was absolutely agog to hear Coleen was doing I’m A Celeb and fears a whole new round of allegations about their WAG war.’
‘What’s more, she knows Ant and Dec will make her the target of their jokes and will be desperate to use the Wagatha Christie phrase.’
‘A very close eye will be kept on everything ITV broadcasts.’
