The AFL appears set to be free to make use of the Devils nickname for the brand new Tasmanian membership after Warner Bros. reached out to the league.
After years of advocating, Tasmania was final week lastly granted a licence by the AFL, with a nineteenth males’s group on monitor to affix the nationwide competitors in 2028.
Attention instantly turned to what the brand new membership can be referred to as, with the Tasmanian Devils rising because the logical and well-liked possibility.
But there was hypothesis the Devils identify can be off-limits as a result of Warner Bros. personal the business copyright for his or her world-famous cartoon character, Taz.
Outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan final week mentioned he was assured the difficulty might be labored by if the membership wished to be referred to as the Devils.
Now Warner Bros. have given a cause for McLachlan’s optimism.
“The Tasmanian Devil (‘Taz’) is an iconic Looney Tunes character and Warner Bros. appreciates the AFL’s acknowledgement and respect of our registered rights,” a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson informed AAP on Tuesday.
“We have reached out to the league and we look forward to a happy solution shortly.”
The AFL and the Tasmanian authorities will appoint a board in coming weeks.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirmed discussions with Warner Bros. had been ongoing.
“But let’s face it, it’s our animal, and we’ll use it if we want,” Rockliff posted on Facebook on Tuesday.
“It’s Tasmanians’ team, so we’ll get together as a state soon and choose a name.”
Tasmania’s bid acquired throughout the road after the federal authorities chipped in $240 million for a contentious $715 million new waterfront stadium in Hobart.
The stadium was the ultimate piece required by the AFL earlier than approving the licence, which was unanimously backed by the 18 current membership presidents.
Rockliff has been beneath some political strain to launch additional particulars concerning the settlement with the federal authorities and the AFL.
He mentioned particulars corresponding to funding, licence situations and the membership’s structure must be launched in “coming months”.
“These details will be released as soon as they are no longer subject to commercially sensitive cooling-off periods and various company establishment elements are complete,” Rockliff mentioned in Tasmanian parliament on Tuesday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
