Setting the Record Straight on the All Black Brand
ACT has required the Government to slow down the law changes which would give legal royalty status to the Rugby Union
silver fern logo. The changes would have gone through this afternoon without anyone outside having more than an hour's
notice of what they say. Now the public will get an opportunity to point out hidden traps, ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen
Franks said.
"The Government wanted to pass this legislation today as part of the Statutes Amendment Bill - a housekeeping tool used
to fix up non-contentious matters.
"Last night, ACT announced that we would not join in this change until satisfied that other users of fern marks, and
perhaps people who would refer to the All Blacks in their business without intending to "ambush market", were
comfortable.
"We are still in the dark on whether other codes and teams (Tall Blacks, Silver Ferns), and business trademarks (for
example Fernleaf butter) are comfortable about the protection intended. We told the Minister and NZRFU that if at any
stage we received a credible claim that the extent or impact of the proposed protection has not been properly
appreciated and it will adversely affect a legitimate current use, we would withdraw our approval to the inclusion in
the Statutes Amendment Bill.
"We know that our position could be misrepresented as being anti-rugby - so this statement is meant to make it crystal
clear. We will support protection when it is clear it will not unintentionally hurt other legitime users of fern marks.
"ACT believes the matter should not be rushed through all its stages in one day without an opportunity for people who
hear of this matter to look into it. We are very conscious that the legislation has not even been available to public
examination," Mr Franks said.