A natural person whose name is protected under the national law of a European Union member state is, according to the European Court of Justice, entitled to prevent the registration of that name as the trademark by a third party. This also applies in case that the name of the natural person is known by the public and has already been protected by earlier trademarks. Not only personality rights associated with the name of a natural person are protected. The name is protected even if commercial interests of the natural person in question are involved.