The owners of Liverpool Football Club have applied to register the Liver bird, the symbol of Liverpool, as a trademark. The club say it's a necessary move to protect counterfeiters making money from fake football shirts and have applied to the UK Intellectual Property Office to register the image for £450.
But Liverpool City Council said the club had "no right" to claim the bird as its own.
Deputy council leader Flo Clucas said the council was taking legal advice over the trademark application.
"I have some very real concerns over it," she said.
"They do already have their crest trademarked, but they have no right of ownership to claim the bird, or any version of the bird, as their own.
"The Liver Bird, not only does it appear on the Royal Charter for the council, but it is also used by local businesses and schools.
"It belongs to the city and nobody has a right to claim it exclusively as the own. It's a symbol for the city."
"The club also says they have no intention of charging organisations that want to use it.
"But there is no guarantee in future that the people of the city will have the right to use that without having to pay for it."
Liverpool already has trademarks on "This is Anfield" and the words "You'll Never Walk Alone" on its official emblem, but is it fair to argue that the Liver Bird is a symbol for the whole of the city.
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