Sir Alex name trademark bid fails

Sir Alex Ferguson had wanted exclusive rights on posters

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has failed in a court bid to trademark his name.

Sir Alex, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, had hoped to get exclusive rights to sell posters and photographs of himself.

But trademark judge Charles Hamilton ruled the manager's name was "devoid of any distinctive character".

Sir Alex is waiting to hear the outcome of a second bid to benefit from using his name on goods such as DVDs, computer games and toy dolls.