When the BBC recently reported on the birth of little polar bear cub Siku at a Danish zoo at the end of 2011, this Kat immediately had to think of the late polar bear Knut's fate. Both cubs had to be hand-reared after their respective mothers could not care for the cubs. See the earlier IPKat posts on Knut here, here and here and MARQUES Class 46 posts on Knut here, here, here and here.Having followed poor Knut's story from cuddly cub to famous celebrity zoo animal with a massive marketing machine (including various trade mark disputes, see "Knut, Flocke, and Co: the bear facts revealed"; JIPLP 2008, pages 764-774, available in full here) until his untimely death at the age of four at Berlin zoo in March 2011, this Kat feared that it would not take long until someone would try to market and trade mark little Siku. However, so far, there does not even appear to be a CTM for Siku -- what a difference to the "140 million dollar polar bear Knut."
Mostly prompted by the fact Bloomberg Business Week was investigating the strength of a Knut's brand even after his death, this Kat has been wondering for a while whether Knut's death would put an end to the zoo's persistent exploitation of Knut's story. Could there still be any marketing ideas left that the Berlin zoo would explore after Knut's death? It appears so. First, Knut's body was put on ice for several months after his death and then the zoo announced plans to have Knut's stuffed body on display -- very much to the bewilderment of many German observers. So, why not let go of the whole story and let Knut rest in peace in dignity? However, it transpired that the Berlin zoo was planning a memorial for Knut. The German public was initially less than inspired when the zoo held a competition to design the memorial: the only entry received was by a seven-year-old girl.
So, just when I thought that even I should let the Knut story go and focus on the Easter bunny trade mark disputes, German media last week reported on two new Knut related stories. First we learn that Knut's father has become the proud father of polar bear cub Anori - Knut's half brother. Anori was born at Wuppertal zoo, which should not be confused with the Zoo in Neumünster which was once involved in a dispute with Berlin zoo over Knut royalties. So far, I could not find any Anori trade marks, but this may just be a question of time...
So, just when I thought that even I should let the Knut story go and focus on the Easter bunny trade mark disputes, German media last week reported on two new Knut related stories. First we learn that Knut's father has become the proud father of polar bear cub Anori - Knut's half brother. Anori was born at Wuppertal zoo, which should not be confused with the Zoo in Neumünster which was once involved in a dispute with Berlin zoo over Knut royalties. So far, I could not find any Anori trade marks, but this may just be a question of time...
The second Knut-related story takes us back to Berlin, where the Berlin zoo this week revealed that there would be a Knut memorial after all. See here for details of the 
design. Knut will be immortalised in a bronze sculpture created by Ukrainian sculptor Josef Tabachnyk, who reportedly beat 40 other entries in the initially slow Knut memorial competition. The memorial, which shows Knut as a sad and pensive animal, does look tasteful. Nonetheless, the whole story does leave some bitter aftertaste. It appears that the Knut saga is not yet over.
design. Knut will be immortalised in a bronze sculpture created by Ukrainian sculptor Josef Tabachnyk, who reportedly beat 40 other entries in the initially slow Knut memorial competition. The memorial, which shows Knut as a sad and pensive animal, does look tasteful. Nonetheless, the whole story does leave some bitter aftertaste. It appears that the Knut saga is not yet over.This Kat is also wondering whether the idea of a celebrity zoo animal is a purely German (and Austrian) one: Knut, Flocke, octopus Paul during the World Cup, Heidi, the opossum, Jack the monkey, Fu Long the panda cub in Vienna? Has something similar ever happened in a non-German speaking country?
Many thanks go to IP enthusiast and polar animal lover Harry (Harriet) Robinson for alerting this Kat to the latest Knut memorial plans.