Springbok emblem

The question about the Springbok emblem, and if it should stay or go has once again raised it's head. The government, specifically the MP for Sports, believes it is a sign which harks back to the dark days of apartheid, and should be raplaced by the King Protea emblem, as currently used by the National Cricket squad. He has no idea of it's marketing value (currently esimated in ZAR billions!!)

The above emblem shows the Springbok jumping towards the heart.The latest version the Springbok is jumping away from the heart......

Referance site

So, the other night on national TV, (and probably worldwide) some bafoon from the ruling government offices, Stofile, told parliament's sports portfolio committee that many South Africans, including the rugby union, did not know who owned the trademark.

"The ownership of both the King Protea and of the Springbok resides with the department of sport and recreation. We own those trademarks, not rugby or anybody else. It is not their Springbok. It is our Springbok. We own those trademarks by law," he said.

So, two leading legal experts on intellectual property and trademarks say there is no proof that the department of sport and recreation owns the Springbok emblem, as Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile has claimed.

Owen Dean, a partner at leading intellectual property legal firm Spoor & Fisher, said on Wednesday: "We have checked the Register of Trademarks, and Saru (South African Rugby Union) is the current owner of the trademark.

"The South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) registered the trademark in 1996. It is now defunct, but one of the two bodies it spawned, Saru and SA Rugby, owns the trademark. We cannot determine which one it is. This trademark was renewed in 2005, and is valid until 2016.

What does this tell us? That the monkey in government thinks he can spew any crap he wants, and does not understand that there is a register for these things which can be consulted for proof. That in fact, the government does not have a fucking clue what it owns or does not. That, even though he may force the national squad to change to the King Protea, he does not, and never will, own the Spingbok emblem. Not for another 8 years anyway!
What a doos!!!

Salagatle!