The following may be of interest to our members It regards the use of copyrighted official Naval symbols (e.g., submarine dolphins etc.) on the headstones and memorials of service veterans.
The following is an extract from a message by the Submariners Association Secretary to all branches.
Dear Secretaries,
This may be of interest to your members for future reference.
I recently was contacted by a member of the Association with this query:
"My wife passed away last year, and I commissioned a headstone with a carving of the Submariners dolphins on the side where my details will eventually go. The stonemason contacted me last week saying that the local parish council have stated that, as it is a copyrighted design approval to use is required. Have you any idea where I would obtain this?"
He later contacted us with the answer he had found through the MOD Copyright as follows:
Subject: 20230710-Memorials
Good Evening
The Secretary of State for Defence is content to permit the families of former Service personnel to use appropriate specified MOD insignia on private, family instigated memorials and/ or their headstone.
Find more about the application process and requirements for permission
Kind Regards
Richard Hieron
Brand Licensing 2 | Policy, Protection & Exploitation
Defence Intellectual Property Rights
MOD Abbey Wood #2214, BRISTOL, BS34 8JH
MOD Telephone: 03001590009
Email: Richard.Hieron100@mod.gov.uk
We have thanked the member concerned for finding out this useful piece of information.
Ron Gordon, National Secretary