It seems that use of the phrase "Welcome cricket 2007" in public is a breach of the ICC's copyright. Well might you say, Whaaa?
Wednesday's Jamaica Gleaner reports that the local organising committee (or LOC to use its official acronym) for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 has instructed its lawyers to serve notice on the owners of a downtown Kingston property which has the words "Welcome cricket 2007" painted across the front.
The Gleaner quotes Robert Bryan, executive director of the Jamaican LOC as saying "the words Cricket World Cup 2007 used in tandem with World Cup, indicate an association with Cricket World Cup 2007."
The report does not say if Bryan was asked about the legal position when the words "World" and "Cup" are not actually used.
One has to wonder whose market was being ambushed in this case. Or is it now going to be impossible for anyone living in a World Cup host locality to display their excitement about the coming event without being sent a bill for the privilege?
The solution, of course, is to change the wording of the sign to: "Piss off cricket, welcome basketball 2007."
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