South Africa: The Netball World Cup, a protected event in South Africa

The 2023 Netball World Cup was hosted in Cape Town, South Africa from 28 July to 6 August 2023.  It has been a landmark event for the continent as this is the first time that this World Cup was hosted in Africa.

As with the FIFA Soccer World Cup that was hosted by South Africa in 2010, the Minister of Trade & Industry declared the 2023 Netball World Cup a “protected event” in terms of Section 15A of the Merchandise Marks Act (“the MMA”).  The relevant notice was advertised in the Government Gazette on 8 July 2023.  Briefly, the effect of this publication grants special protection to the event and prohibits third parties from using their own trade marks, without authority from the organiser of the event, in a manner calculated to achieve publicity for the trade mark in question and thereby to derive special promotional benefit from the event.  This includes any visual or audible use of their trade marks which in any way, whether directly or indirectly, is intended to be brought into association with or to allude to any event.

Congratulations to Australia, who won the Cup!