NRL

When the NRL’s 19th franchise first announced its name in Port Moresby last year there were instant rumblings from across the Tasman.

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Despite considerable fanfare since around coach and player signings for the PNG Chiefs, those rumblings have not gone away as the NRL remains mired in a protracted dispute with NZ Rugby which is now heading to the New Zealand High Court to seek an injunction on use of the ‘Chiefs’ name in New Zealand.

The move has been slammed by NRL boss Peter V’landys as hypocritical, who vouched the NRL would defend its position ‘vigorously’.

“The hypocrisy is mind-blowing,” V’landys said, referencing one of New Zealand Super Rugby’s highest profile franchises as an example.

“Considering the Auckland Blues in 1996 used the NSW Blues name without any consultation or approval.”

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The core issue in the increasingly-awkward dispute is an existing trademark already exists for ‘Chiefs’ — held by New Zealand Rugby for its Hamilton-based Super Rugby side that was founded back in 1996.

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As a result IP Australia had blocked the NRL from registering the trademark ‘PNG Chiefs’ creating the potential for major commercial difficulties and even litigation.

According to earlier reports in the The Australian Financial Review, IP Australia had advised that any claims for exclusive rights to the words ‘PNG Chiefs’ were problematic, particularly given multiple other companies across numerous industries are already using the word ‘Chiefs’.

“There remains a real and tangible danger of confusion even within the field of sporting teams and their related activities,” IP Australia is reported to have advised the NRL back in March.

The NRL and IP Australia have been arguing over the details of its application for 12 months and now NZ rugby union officials have launched New Zealand High Court proceedings to prevent the Papua New Guinea-based franchise from using the ‘Chiefs’ name in New Zealand.

What happens next is unclear, however with the official unveiling of the PNG Chiefs logo and jersey scheduled for later this month in Port Moresby, the clock is ticking.

There still remains a chance the PNG Chiefs could even be forced to change its name at the eleventh hour in an embarrassing and very public backdown for Peter V’landys and Co.

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