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Archiver > CORNISH > 2004-03 > 1078611744


From: Corinne Thompson <>
Subject: [CON] Aussie Aussie Aussie - OI ! OI ! OI !
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 09:24:58 +1100
In-Reply-To: <007501c40398$2d7a0420$12d1883e@george>


Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!.

Before everyone gets all worked up over this ...... based on an
interpretation of what a Western Australian newspaper has interpreted an
article in a Victorian newspaper as saying ...... all that the gentleman
concerned has done is to register "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi! Oi! Oi!" as a
trademark to prevent it being taken over by overseas interests, as has our
"Vegemite", Arnott's Biscuits" and other Aussie icons.

Regardless of whether or not the idea for it may have originally been
derived from the Cornish chant, the Aussie version (if indeed it is) has
became very popular in recent years and has been used at sporting events
everywhere in which Australians compete, including the Olympic Games.

I watched the interview with the gentleman concerned ...... who, by the way,
is called "Davies" (so he may well be of Welsh or Cornish descent) ......
and could not see anything wrong with what he has done, or the reasons he
gave for doing it.

He did not express any intentions of preventing Australians from using it at
sporting events ...... which would probably prove impossible, anyway, given
the Australian character ...... but of preventing it for being exploited, by
others, for commercial gain.

He made no mention what so ever, of placing any restrictions on the Cornish
using their chant.

Please, let's wait to see what, if anything, is done ...... before we make
fools of ourselves.

Most of our sporting symbols are actually registered trademarks without us
even realising that they are. This trend started in the U.S.A. and has
spread worldwide as the business sector has became involved in sport ......
bring modern business practises with it. The "Fighting Kangaroo" symbol for
the Australian entry in America's Cup in 1987 was a registered trademark
...... as our football teams colours and logos etc..

It is only if someone misuses them ...... or attempts to use them for
commercial gain without obtaining prior permission that we even get to hear
about them.

Kindest Regards ...... Corinne in Melbourne, Australia.



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