ICC introduces Anti-Infringement Programme

A comprehensive public awareness and educational campaign will commence in August 2005 to inform people across the region about ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and the impact of the Anti-Infringement Programme (AIP).

The Anti-Infringement Programme (AIP) was first set out on Wednesday July 20, 2005 in Port of Spain Trinidad with a half day workshop, attended by CEO's and communications representatives from each of the nine ICC Cricket World Cup, Local Organising Committees (LOC's). Members of the legal fraternity from across the region, representatives from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) and the event global partners and sponsors were also in attendance.

Presentations were made on the AIP structure and process, use of event marks, ambush marketing, counterfeit merchandise and the need for "clean venues". The central issue discussed was that of 'ambush marketing', led by ICC CWC 2007 Inc Senior Project Officer Stephen Price who defined ambush marketing in relation to CWC 2007 as;

"Any unauthorised activity by a person which is intended to create an association with the event and or exploit or utilise the publicity or the goodwill of the event and or have the effect of diminishing or appropriating the status as such of sponsors, broadcasters or other official licensees in regard to the event and or have the effect of acquiring for such person, the status as a sponsor, broadcaster or other official licensee in regard to the event".

Price encouraged the LOC's to be vigilant about the threat of potential ambush marketers as they make their preparations for the upcoming tournament.

Other presenters at the workshop included Derek Jones, Senior Legal Council at ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007, James Ashworth, ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. Licensing and Merchandise Advisor and Grant Gordon, legal council representing ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc.

The workshop was the first step in providing each LOC with information to be utilised in educational public awareness campaigns that will commence in all nine host venues focusing on the protection of the commercial rights associated with hosting ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.