Blanch woman takes on pop mogul Cowell over ‘Talent’ title legal challenge - By Princess Pamela Toyin

A west Dublin entrepreneur is currently in a legal battle with pop star reality show king Simon Cowell over the use of the ‘Got Talent’ brand.

Rebecca Omokaro registered the names ‘Blanchardstown Got Talent’ and ‘Ireland’s Got Talent’ in Ireland in 2014 ahead of plans to organise talent shows in Dublin under those titles.

But recently she received a letter from lawyers on behalf of Simon Cowell — whose company Simco co-produces the wildly popular shows Britain’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent — demanding she withdraw her filings with the CRO and Irish Patents Office.

“I will not succumb to that,” says Omokaro, who claims that she registered her names years after Simco and Fremantle Media’s own registrations in Ireland expired in August 2010. The companies filed their own renewals in August 2016.

Omokaro adds that their demands are “a slap in the face and a totally wrong approach”. 

The entrepreneur also points out that the Trade Mark Register website states it is ‘necessary to seek registration in each country in which the owners wishes to protect the mark’.

“The fact that Britain, Australia and America’s Got Talent were registered by Simon’s company does not mean Ireland is in their possession,” she says.

Despite the legal demands, Omokaro maintains she will not end her talent shows.

“Blanchardstown’s Got Talent has brought a lot of awareness on the importance of multiculturalism and … brought a lot of youths to the limelight,” she says. “These youths were not known and had done nothing of the sort before they featured on our show.” 

Omokaro notes that many of these young people are now involved in other competitions and activities within their own communities. 

“We have achieved the joy of giving back to the community and making the community proud,” she says. “Blanchardstown Got Talent has put smiles on people’s faces ever since. The organisation is meant to make people happy and we are delighted we are achieving this.”

A representative for Fremantle Media said they would not comment on the matter as it has been handed over for legal proceedings.