The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has warned that it will take legal action against companies that ambush its intellectual property (IP) rights after securing a court order restraining Eskort from continuing a marketing campaign using the Springboks brand and IP.
The Gauteng Division of the High Court ordered the company to remove the offending marks and get-up from all signage, marketing material, goods and/or products of any nature, including banners, posts and publications of the respondent’s infringing marks on all and any websites, social media and other electronic platforms.
Eskort has since deleted the controversial advert but did have a tongue-in-cheek response.
The matter is still to be argued at a later date.
SARU has also succeeded in closing online retailers of counterfeit apparel, all of whom have been exploiting Rugby World Cup fever along with more established corporates.
CEO of SA Rugby Rian Oberholzer says they will do what they have to do to protect their rights and those of their highly valued partners who are shamelessly ambushed right now.
He says companies such as MTN and FNB who joined them in the hard times have shown true support by backing the Boks financially.
"They and our broadcast partner pay us for exclusivity in their area of business to use the Springbok brand and logo and have access to other assets.
"They are not free to use for anyone who takes a fancy, and those companies that understand the rules of IP and dance around them, associating with the team but without breaching the IP, are just as damaging. If they want to support us, they must do it in the right way and through the right channels," he added.
Earlier this month SARU also warned fans against buying fake rugby shirts from online outlets claiming to be "official".
The Springboks continue their Rugby World Cup campaign against Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday.
