As Brooklyn Beckham looks to establish himself beyond ‘Brand Beckham’, the Mirror takes a look at the 2026 deadline which could change everything for the warring family
December 2026 marks a crucial deadline for Brooklyn Beckham(Image: )
As his recent bombshell statement made clear, Brooklyn Beckham is looking to establish himself as an individual in his own right, away from the glittering shadow of ‘Brand Beckham’.
But such breakaways aren’t always quite as simple as cutting ties and running, no matter how publicly you might air your dirty laundry. In Brooklyn’s case, even his name cannot be considered to be his own, with mum Victoria Beckham said to be the sole owner of the trademark on ‘Brooklyn Beckham’.
It looks as though this year could mark a significant turning point, however, with the 26-year-old’s bombshell Instagram story reportedly coming less than one year before this trademark expires.
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In December 2016, Victoria Beckham took out a trademark in her eldest son’s name(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Documents seen by the Daily Mail reportedly show that in December 2016, the Spice Girl turned fashion mogul took out the trademark in her eldest son’s name. The deadline for expiration is said to be December 2026, after which point Brooklyn will be free to renew using his own lawyers.
While this ownership could be perceived as fitting into Brooklyn’s narrative about being “controlled” by his famous parents, this measure isn’t unheard of by those well aware their children are destined for a life in the public eye.
Peter Vaughan, Associate Professor at Nottingham Law School, told the Mirror: “Where the parents are famous, and it is likely that their children will have their own high profile, following in their parents’ footsteps, then securing early trade mark protection for those children can make sense in allowing them to develop their own brand.
Brooklyn and Nicola have distanced themselves from the Beckhams, with a blistering statement shocking fans(Image: INSTAGRAM)
“A registration carves out a space for the brand ‘Brooklyn’ to grow into. It would potentially allow him to stop others from using the same or a similar name for the same or similar products as listed in the registration. Whilst currently owned by Victoria Beckham, the nature of the listed name states her role as his ‘parent and guardian’.
As noted by Mr Vaughan, registrations were also taken out on behalf of the three younger Beckham children, Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14, who were again listed as owned by mum Victoria in her capacity as a “parent and guardian”.
A BBC News from April 2017 noted that Victoria trademarked the names of her four children with intellectual property authorities in Britain and Europe to allow the release of branded products while protecting the Beckham name from use by other celebrities or businesses. Both she and football legend husband David Beckham had previously trademarked their names in 2002 and 2000, respectively.
The other Beckham children have also had their names trademarked(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Mr Vaughan remarked: “This is a family aware of the value of a brand and the methods available to protect it. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Brooklyn and Nicola seek to file their own trade marks to protect their names and branding opportunities, even if they also seek to gain control of the existing Brooklyn Beckham registration.
“Whilst not the gift every teenager probably wants, a trade mark registration such as this one could well prove to be the true gift that keeps on giving. It may not even be as unusual as it first appears. It seems a registration exists for ‘BLUE IVY CARTER’, as an example. Securing trade mark protection for their children is, perhaps, simply savvy future planning famous parents now seek to do for their children (seen in the same vein as applying for their passport or birth certificate – just another certificate to add to the list).”
The value placed on such trademarks allegedly came to light shortly before his 2022 wedding to actress Nicola Peltz, with Brooklyn claiming that parents Victoria and David attempted to “bribe” him mere weeks before the ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, with a “payday” being “affected” by his refusal to cooperate.
Shortly before his 2022 wedding, Brooklyn claimed his parents had attempted to ‘bribe’ him(Image: INSTAGRAM)
In a jaw-dropping Instagram statement, Brooklyn claimed: “Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children. They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since.”
While it’s currently unclear exactly what Brooklyn means here by payday, it’s well known that the Beckhams, whose fortune is estimated to sit around the £500 million mark, are protective when it comes to maintaining their family’s hard-built legacy, and experts warn that this counternarrative could see glossy ‘Brand Beckham’ take a bruising.
Now, speculation is rife as to what exactly Brooklyn will do with his separate identity once the trademark expires, with some sources claiming he could be set to follow in Prince Harry’s footsteps, with a tell-all book akin to the explosive 2023 bestseller, Spare.
It’s been speculated that Brooklyn could tell all in a candid memoir(Image: INSTAGRAM)
Warning that the Instagram story could be just “the beginning” of the battle cry against Beckingham Palace, a source told the Mail: “This wasn’t a final cry for help. If people think it’s the end, it’s actually the beginning.” They added: “He’s always said he wasn’t interested. Maybe one day. Maybe in the future. But not now. This is the first time he’s seriously considered telling his side of the story to clear the air. He’s sick of others rewriting it for him.”
Much like Prince Harry, to whom he is often compared, Brooklyn’s name was known across the world from the day he was born, with the youngster quickly becoming a feature in his parents’ countless photoshoots and media appearances. It’s perhaps understandable that he, too, wants his voice to be heard, as an adult with his own opinions and perspectives. But while Brooklyn and Nicola, 31, may be looking to strike out on their own, Mayah Riaz, a PR to the stars, has predicted that the young couple will need more than a “victimhood” narrative to sustain their brand in the long term.
Speaking with the Mirror, Ms Riaz explained: “On whether Brooklyn and Nicola can use this to establish their own brand, potentially yes, but only if they pivot quickly from grievance to purpose. Sure, victimhood can open the door, but it doesn’t sustain a brand. To steal the throne, which I’m not sure is what they want, they’d need a clear identity that is not defined by attacking his parents. Otherwise, they remain the anti-Beckhams, which is not a strong long-term position.”
The young couple will need to think beyond being the ‘anti Beckhams’ in order to sustain their brand in the long term(Image: nicolaannepeltzbeckham/Instagram)
Whether they live in a palace or a semi-detached, many families have endured the pain of estrangement and vows made in anger, only for reconciliations to unfold once tempers cool. So, while Brooklyn has made it clear that he currently wants nothing to do with the Beckhams, is there a way back to some sort of closeness or even understanding between the warring family members?
On this note, the Mirror heard from Lucy Theobald, Specialist Family Lawyer and Director at The Family Law Company, who advises high-net-worth families. The legal expert reflected: “The very public fallout between Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and his parents has become more than celebrity gossip. It shines a harsh light on what happens when family life, wealth and brand collide, and how quickly private pain can turn into public spectacle.
“Celebrity families face unique pressures when personal relationships begin to fracture. For wealthy families, disputes are rarely just emotional; they are also reputational. Damage following a relationship breakdown can directly affect the value of a brand and its associated businesses, turning family conflict into an emotional and commercial battleground. That pressure often intensifies parent/child breakdowns and drives families towards legal advice on control, autonomy and identity, issues that are deeply personal but increasingly played out in public.
A blistering statement penned by Brooklyn made his feelings crystal clear(Image: INSTAGRAM)
“Social media has become a powerful accelerant in family disputes. Tensions that once unfolded privately are now broadcast in real time, inviting scrutiny, commentary and judgment. Once shared online, narratives are difficult, if not impossible, to regain control of, and already fragile relationships can harden beyond repair.
Drawing from cases she herself has seen, Ms Theobald continued: “In my experience, reconciliation depends on space, humility and time. Social media offers none of these. Instead, it rewards reaction, encourages point-scoring and entrenches positions, often undermining attempts to resolve matters through mediation or other forms of dispute resolution.
“Mediation, when used early, can be particularly effective in high-profile families where identity, emotion and reputation are tightly bound together. A skilled mediator helps each person hear what is actually being said, not what they fear or assume is being said. By slowing conversations down and removing the audience, mediation can disrupt cycles of escalation and shift focus away from image management and back towards understanding. It allows families to recognise shared interests and explore solutions that protect relationships as well as dignity.
“In one case where children rejected contact with their mother, a judge took the unusual step of writing directly to them. While respecting their wishes, he reminded them they only have one mum and encouraged them to leave the door open for the future. Crucially, no pressure was applied. Breathing space was created, something no court order or public campaign can ever achieve. Whether a family is famous or not, forced reconciliation rarely heals. More often, it deepens the divide.
“When family becomes brand, protecting the human relationships underneath becomes harder, but also more important. Control may protect an image in the short term. But respect, restraint and quiet boundaries are far more likely to protect a family in the long run.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads
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