Trading marks

The BBC came late to "ownership" of the Promenade Concerts. In a lower case way, they'd existed outdoors in London's pleasure gardens since the mid-18th century.  In 1895, impresario Robert Newman took the concept of standing and listening indoors, hiring the Queen's Hall, Langham Place W1.  Eating, smoking and drinking would also be allowed - and the ticket prices would be low, to encourage a new audience.  Newman hired Henry Joseph Wood as his conductor for the planned series of concerts - and he, in turn, assembled the Queen's Hall Orchestra.

The BBC took over the running of this annual event in 1927; the BBC Symphony Orchestra took over the performing duties when it was formed in 1930, and apart from blips in move to the Albert Hall during the Second World War, the BBC worked alongside Henry Wood until his death in 1944.

The BBC tries to assert ownership - ticket stubs are clearly marked "BBC Proms" and "BBC Music presents the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts".   But Auntie is unlikely to win any copyright rows over titles.  The BBC itself has diluted the "brand" substantially over the last ten years, with the dying Electric Proms, and "Proms in the Park" all over the place.

Nonetheless it must be a bit galling when you see free cds given away in the Telegraph this weekend, thus...

There is a disclaimer attached: "These CDs are not endorsed by the BBC Proms or The Royal Albert Hall".  I bet they're not.

• For nicer stuff from The Telegraph, try this article about the Proms from campaigning pianist James Rhodes and perhaps get outraged about his comparisons of Ronaldo and Argerich, Villazon and Gary Barlow.