OXFORD University’s application to trade mark the word ‘Oxford’ in new ways has been approved.

Two weeks ago, the Oxford Mail reported on the university’s fresh bid to trade mark the city’s name on more than 100 products.

This means that makers of maps, tickets, DVDs, pencils and even Bibles could now potentially be left with a bill for using the word ‘Oxford’ in the wrong way.

However Oxford University Press, the division of the university which lodged the application, says it won’t take legal action against everybody, despite legally being able to do so.

Instead, the institute said it will only pursue a claim if it ‘believes its rights are being infringed’.

The bid for exclusive rights over the city’s name was lodged in March, however a change to the online application meant it was re-filed later.

OUP said it only submitted the application as a ‘precautionary step’ in response to 'ongoing uncertainty around Brexit'.

Residents, however, raised the alarm about the application, saying that a protection over ‘Oxford’ in favour of the university’s usage could widen the centuries-old ‘town and gown’ divide.

The official applicant, ‘The Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford’ trading as OUP, was already the owner of four other registered trade marks, before this fifth one was approved.

One of them, a shield logo with the word ‘Oxford’ on, is filed alongside the disclaimer that the ‘registration of the mark gives no right to exclusive use of the word ‘Oxford’.’

The plans were officially granted by the Governments Intellectual Property Office, which validates the trade mark for 10 years.

Within the decade, OUP will also be able to sell and licence the ‘brand’ – all for the cost of a £270 application.