A Bill, likely to create some controversy in terms of how it protects the rights of sponsors of Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, is to be tabled in the House of Representatives next Tuesday.

"As you are aware, there is a requirement that countries hosting these World Cup games pass special legislation to facilitate the holding of these games," Senator Colin Campbell, the information minister, told reporters at Monday's weekly post-Cabinet press briefing.
"I am sure that aspects of it will be controversial," Campbell admitted.

The Bill, titled the ICC (International Cricket Council) World Cup West Indies 2007 Act, is better known in sporting circles as the Sunset Legislation. Although it deals with a wide range of issues contingent of the staging of CWC 2007 in the West Indies next year, it is primarily concerned with marketing and promotional issues.

The minister said of particular concern were the provisions relating to the protection of intellectual property rights.
"The bill provides protection against ambush marketing, prohibits specified advertising and controls commercial broadcasting telecasting, recording or filming," Campbell said.

Ambush marketing is the unauthorised use of events by non-sponsors to promote their products, by associating with events and utilising the publicity, or goodwill, of the event without permission.

There have been serious concerns within the region that, as has been the case at major international sporting events recently, many companies would be seeking to piggyback on CWC 2007 without paying their dues.

The types of sponsors which the promoters fear include the offering of prize tickets to the event; advertising using match schedules; associating with the event without actually using its logo; using good luck messages to teams, or individuals, without permission; displaying banners in the stadium, or getting blocks of spectators to wear clothing promoting a product; using strategically placed spectators in the venues for camera exposure; and, using a sky banner or a blimp over the venue.

But, the Sunset Legislation, so-called because it is limited to a period at some point before the start of the event and up to June 30 next year, is expected to make these practices criminal offences during the CWC 2007 and could even affect business in the area of Sabina Park and the stadium in Trelawny.

Admitting that it would affect some local businesses, Campbell said that the Bill provides that owners, or occupiers of land, buildings or structure, within what is described as a CWC 2007 venue area, will not be allowed to advertise, post or distribute advertising material within that area known as a venue without authorisation, in writing, from CWC 2007.

In the Bill, a CWC venue means a place declared as such under Section 5 for the purpose of the event.

Section 5 says the responsible minister, after consultation with the committee may, by notice published in the gazette and in at least one newspaper in daily circulation, and subject to such conditions as may be appropriate in the circumstances, declare any area within control of the committee of CWC 2007, or both, that is reasonably required for the staging of CWC 2007 activity as a CWC venue.

The minister shall, in that notice, state the dates from which the area will be regarded as a CWC venue, and when it will cease to be considered a CWC venue, which should not be later than 48 hours after completion of CWC 2007.

The Bill has seven sections dealing with issues like special arrangements, including road closures, visas, work permits, import and export duties, exemption from income and other taxes, exemption of tax on tickets, Sunday trading, banking and control of airspace.

It also addresses conduct at venues, including authorising the police to exercise the power of removal, entry and exit to the venues, conduct within the venues, prohibited or restricted items at the venues, sale of goods, requirement to state names and addresses, control of advertising, infringement of trademarks and unlicensed use of images.

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