Story Archive

Let The Farce Be With You

Laura Matthews, 30, of Southend, Essex, England, legally changed her name to add a middle name — “Skywalker” — and applied for a new passport showing that name. The U.K.’s Passport Office initially refused to issue the passport, even with the legal name change, because it claimed she was “infringing a trademark” with her name. After some fighting over the issue, the Passport Office issued her a passport, but then said it had been issued in error and was canceled. Unable to travel, Matthews had to change her name back to her birth name to get a passport, but hasn’t given up on her preferred name. “These are people we trust to do things properly,” she says, “and they’re not.” (RC/BBC) ...Government agencies worldwide: the enforcement arm for Disney Studios.