Millionaire graffiti artist Banksy faces legal challenge to take trademark name away from him – and his team could be made to go public in court

Banksy could lose the right to his own name because he faces a bitter legal challenge to take his trademark from him.

The millionaire graffiti artist, whose team can be made to become public before the court, is forced to defend his trademark of the word Banksy to sell images and merchandise.

The case is brought by Full Color Black, a greeting card company that sells recreations from the work of Banksy, Sun has reported.

The company that is owned by Andrew Gallagher claimed that the faceless artist did not use the Banksy handle brand and that it must be canceled for ‘non-use’.

Moreover, one of the Banksy team will be obliged to prove in a tribunal in the spring to fight against the claims, a source has claimed.

This would be the first time that someone would be forced to speak in public on behalf of Banksy.

The source told the sun that Banksy, who previously said that ‘copyright for losers’ could even be in court, but ‘we will not know who he is’.

Banksy’s identity has remained secretly since he launched his street art 25 years ago.

Banksy’s Flying Ballon Girl is one of his most recognizable works of art

A new Banksy Mural appeared last March on a wall in Hornsey Road, Finsbury Park

A new Banksy Mural appeared last March on a wall in Hornsey Road, Finsbury Park

Banksy's famous wall painting, anger, the flower thrower (love is in the air), is painted on a car wash in a suburb of Bethlehem

Banksy’s famous wall painting, anger, the flower thrower (love is in the air), is painted on a washing wax in a suburb of Bethlehem

In 2008, however, the mail launched a study in 2008 on Sunday in which Robin Gunningham was mentioned as the Bristol artist. His identity remains unconfirmed.

Banksy is already being charged because of defamation by Mr Gallagher in a separate case about an Instagram post where he reportedly encourages fans to go and ‘help’ himself to clothes of Guess in Regent Street.

In a post to his 11.5 million followers on Instagram, the withdrawn artist called to shoplifters to give the clothing brand a taste of their own medicine after they have reportedly used his artwork without permission.

“Attention all shoplifters,” he wrote in November 2022.

‘Please go to Regent Street. They helped themselves with my artwork without asking, how can it be wrong to do the same with their clothing? ‘

Trademarks offer legal protection over a brand or product, which gives the owner the rights to take legal steps if someone uses the brand without permission.

They also allow the brand to sell or license to third parties if necessary.

In the most recent case, one of the representatives of Banksy will have to prove that the faceless artist sold goods between 2017 and 2022.

In 2008, the post started on Sunday a study in 2008 in which Robin Gunningham was mentioned as the Bristol artist. His identity remains unconfirmed

In 2008, the post started on Sunday a study in 2008 in which Robin Gunningham was mentioned as the Bristol artist. His identity remains unconfirmed

Banksy's Work CND Soldiers 2005, those two soldiers display the symbol of the campaign for nuclear disarmament on a wall graffitors

Banksy’s Work CND Soldiers 2005, those two soldiers display the symbol of the campaign for nuclear disarmament on a wall graffitors

Kissing buyers were originally unveiled on the wall of the Prince Albert Pub in Brighton

Kissing buyers were originally unveiled on the wall of the Prince Albert Pub in Brighton

His sturdy pest control office says they have sold various products, including mugs, clocks and a handbag, the Sun report continued.

In 2021 Banksy was stripped of the trademarks for two of his works Radarrat and Girl with Umbrella.

Radar Rat is considered one of Banksy’s most iconic works and appeared on a wall in London in 2004, while girl with umbrella was founded in New Orleans in 2008.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Full Color Black convinced the EU panel to cancel the trademarks.

In two separate judgments, the EU panel ruled that Banksy had applied for the trademarks in ‘evil loyalty’ because he did not intend to commercialize his images.

Radarrat

Girl with umbrella also known as Nola

Banksy was stripped of two more trademarks before his works in 2021 – Radar Rat (left) and girl with umbrella (right)

Banksy in his film Exit via the gift shop - invoiced as 'The World's First Street Art Disaster Movie'

Banksy in his film Exit via the gift shop – invoiced as ‘The World’s First Street Art Disaster Movie’

The year prior to the ruling, Banksy was also stripped of his first trademark for his work The Flower Thrower after a two -year legal battle with full color Black.

Judges pointed to the fact that ‘he cannot be identified as the indisputable owner of such works as his identity is hidden’.

Banksy is one of the world’s most elusive artists and started his street art career 25 years ago.

He is also known for his headstunts, such as leaving an inflatable doll dressed as a Guantanamo – prisoner in Disneyland, California, and a version of the Mona Lisa hangs – but with a smiley – in the Louvre, Paris.

Last August Banksy unveiled the eighth addition to his artworks with animal theme in London.

The elusive artist posted a photo of his mural on his official Instagram with a nose hos that mounts a Nissan Micra with a traffic cone on his hood on Westmore Street in Charlton, Southeast London.

It came after the gigantic fishing tank appeared on a police shield watch box in London after dark silhouette images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans and a cat.

MailOnline has contacted the representatives of Full Color Black and Banksy for comment.