Local band in trouble for naming album 'Bafana Bafana'

A nasty trademark battle has broken out between the South African Football Association (Safa) and Bula Music after one of the record label's groups, AmaSAP, named their latest album Bafana Bafana.

Bula Music is being ordered to remove 10 000 CDs of the KZN maskandi band from shop shelves and destroy all extra album covers.

Bula music boss Harvey Roberts told the Saturday Star this week it was ridiculous that artists could not support the national soccer team in their own way. But Safa's licensing and marketing arm, Slam, says the words Bafana Bafana and the soccer jersey worn on the cover of the album are both trademarked to the association.

Slam also claims that the soccer jerseys the maskandi band are wearing on the cover are counterfeit.

This article was originally written and published on iol by Candice Bailey, click here and read the rest.

Topics in this article

Company:	Bula Music
Music Group:	AmaSAP, Slam
Organization:	South African Football Association
Person:	Bafana Bafana, Harvey Roberts
Sports Game:	Soccer
Sports League:	The South African Football Association

comments

posted date: 17 Mar 10

Why is SAFA going up and sayimg we should support Bafana Bafana and when we\'re trying to do that we\'re told that our initiatves are out of line? i mean what was wrong with naming the album Bafana Bafana? does\'nt that show how much we love the team and how much proud we are with them?

Msa Mahlangu!

posted date: 16 Mar 10

This is a no brainer, Bula Records and their Mr Roberts should have just known better. We admire and respect that they want to show their support for Bafana Bafana but come on now. Someone at Bula Records, whether in a senior or junior position should have thought that this might be a problem and checked on it,

Tshepang

posted date: 15 Mar 10

Unfortunately its all about money! Musicians should have the freedom to sing about what they love. I also run an indie label Music@Workl. My advice: make sure before you name ANYTHING, seems the whole world is copyrighted BUT don\'t let this damped your spirit, love for music and passion for your country and it sport starts!

Laurika Steenkamp

posted date: 15 Mar 10

Our country needs our support but in terms of business I agree that the group has misused the trademark of the national team. At this time let the law be fair because there are so many other groups that has used the trademark of the national team, but they have not attended any cases. Maskandi music must always do whatever they feel when composing their songs like all other artists.

Nkosinathi

posted date: 15 Mar 10

Harvey Robers should read the UK case, Arsenal v Matthew Reed at http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipcass/ipcass-dcats/ipcass-arsenal.htm. It tells a lot about how trademarks really work. As long as the record companywas not \'passing off\' or manufacturing or unfairly trading in any proprietary products, I can\'t see that a complainant has a strong case, except perhaps using the name of the national team. But how many records over the years used the Springbok name, and no-one worried about it. Besides, this is not a private team, this is the national soccer team, i.e. public domain. But that\'s just my opinion and I am not a lawyer.

henry shaw

posted date: 15 Mar 10

JUST READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE..the safa guys are being vry unfair...maybe if the group used the name bafana bafana as a stage name i would agree with safa but not in this case. this mean they don\'t need our support.......no problem we will sing about ohter countries next time

ticcyyours

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