FIFA launches 2,500 actions to protect World Cup brand

Johannesburg: FIFA has launched 2,500 legal actions around the globe to protect its World Cup brand, a senior official of soccer`s governing body said on Thursday.

Mpumi Mazibuko, FIFA Rights Protection manager, said that 450 actions had been taken or were pending in South Africa alone. Almost all concluded cases were settled out of court.FIFA`s defence of its brand is so stringent that officials said street traders near stadiums who sell drinks that are not manufactured by World Cup sponsors would have to decant them into unbranded bottles. The policies have been controversial here with accusations FIFA has been heavy-handed in bringing legal action and that local businesses will suffer because of the exclusivity awarded to the World Cup`s major corporate partners. At a news conference called to defend the policy, FIFA Marketing Director Thierry Weil said corporate partnerships were essential to raise the almost $1.5 billion cost of the World Cup, and the sponsors paid big money for exclusive rights. "Without the commercial affiliates, FIFA would not be in a position to run the event," he said. Sibongile Mazibuko, World Cup director in the Johannesburg City council, rejected repeated criticism that the informal traders who traditionally sell food outside stadiums would not benefit from the tournament. But she said they would have to sell unbranded food, going to the extent of decanting drinks into "neutral" plastic bottles provided by the city. Similar programmes would be in place in other World Cup cities, she said. Mazibuko said the city had gone to great lengths to educate traders on the rights protection laws and to ensure that food sellers, known as "mamas" would make money from the World Cup.They would not be allowed inside the stadium precinct, where only corporate partners or pre-existing shops could operate, but would have special facilities on the route into the arenas. "We feel very strongly that those mamas who have actually been selling at the stadiums should not be unnecessarily affected by the exclusive zone," she said. "While we understand the protection of the rights of FIFA, we have a responsibility not to sacrifice our own informal traders out of business because there is a tournament here," she said. Local food and curio sellers would also be able to operate inside the fan parks where large screens will be set up to show games away from the stadiums. But again, food must be unbranded. Local authorities and FIFA took an audit over the last three years of existing businesses around the stadiums and they will be able to continue operating. But any new advertising by non rights holders will have to be covered up during the World Cup, officials said. FIFA makes most of its money -- which has to last until the next World Cup in four years time -- through selling television rights and deals with commercial sponsors. More than 60 percent of FIFA`s 2007-2010 revenue of USD 3.2 billion comes from TV rights and around 30 percent from commercial marketing. Ticket revenue goes to the South African organising committee. Mpumi Mazibuko said South Africa had particularly strong laws to protect intellectual properly and to punish "ambush marketing" where non affiliated companies try to use the World Cup brand. "This is the first time the World Cup has been held in a country with these laws," he said. Last month, Kulula, a local low cost airline known for humorous advertisements, agreed to withdraw its tongue-in-cheek billboards after a legal letter from FIFA which was given wide media coverage here. The advertisement called Kulula the unofficial carrier of the "You-know-what" and showed footballs, vuvuzela fan trumpets and soccer players. Bureau Report