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Woman with 'Skywalker' as her middle name has passport rejected

The Home Office rejected the application because the name is "subject to copyright or trademark."

By Evan Bleier
U.S. actor Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original "Star Wars" film. (File/UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)
U.S. actor Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original "Star Wars" film. (File/UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen) | License Photo

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ESSEX, England, July 30 (UPI) -- Officials in England apparently do not feel that "the force" is with a woman who added Skywalker as her middle name.

Laura Matthews took Luke Skywalker's last name in 2008 as a joke and even began signing her name as "L. Skywalker" to reflect the change.

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However, it wasn't all that funny when Home Office administrators rejected Laura Elizabeth Skywalker Matthews' passport application because of copyright issues.

When she signed her passport renewal form with her revamped signature, the Home Office told the 29-year-old it "will not recognize a change to a name which is subject to copyright or trademark."

"We have a duty to ensure the reputation of the U.K. passport is not called into question or disrepute," according to a Home Office spokesman.

Matthews had never encountered issues in the past because of her new John Hancock. "It's on my driving license, my bank cards, everything. Everyone else is happy with that signature apart from passport office," she told BBC News.

If Matthews wants a new passport, she may have to head to the dark side and go back to her old signature.

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