FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa: Bafana Bafana, the Copyright clash
In addition to the soccer fans, anyone else who happened to watch the glimpse of the recently ended FIFA World-cup 2010 clearly remembers the name Bafana Bafana. Basically, it was the friendly name of the South African Football team used by the African fans. It created quite frenzy and frequently appeared on the television screens. The 19th FIFA world Cup in South Africa had the world-wide media coverage and it provided them a chance to promote their culture and language to soccer fans all over the world.
People came to know about new African words such as Bafana Bafana, waka waka and various others. They danced to the African tunes without even knowing the meanings of words.
The World Cup has ended but apparently, the South African Football Association (SAFA) is in trouble on account of using the name Bafana Bafana for the national soccer team. A local businessman is involved in heated discussion with SAFA on the matter of copyrights. Reportedly, the businessman acquired the rights to the name “Bafana Bafana” in 1994. The current owners are believed to earn $10 million profit from the name in recent times.
This African term which actually means “the boys, the boys”, gained much popularity during FIFA World Cup 2010. In an internet poll, Bafana Bafana was voted one of the most famous words of the World Cup along with the Polish ‘vuvuzela. However, the term has created copyright problems for SAFA.
SAFA’s President Kirsten Nematandani spoke to media on Thursday and showed great concern over the matter. Obviously, the name Bafana Bafana is written in the official literature of SAFA and the team is commonly known by this name, which makes it a matter of extreme importance. The association president said that he wants to avoid saying that they are very angry about it. He further added that the future of South African team’s nickname was being discussed at public level and would have to be changed before it becomes the national asset.
This is not the first time that SAFA is facing this kind of problem. This issue was already raised in the past and reached South Africa’s parliamentary courts. As a matter of fact, South African Football Association started official combat for the rights of this name in 1997. The case took many back and forth moves but remained in the air without a conclusion. In 2002, the South African Supreme Court discharged the appeal submitted by SAFA.
Although there are no clear indications that the actual owners of the brand will sue SAFA for using the name but apparently, country’s soccer association is making nothing out of it. SAFA is unable of marketing the name for the monetary benefits.
SAFA’s president has expressed his views that originally the name Bafana Bafana came from the local community and they are the ones who can better decide its future. SAFA is simply throwing the ball back to the public; the people should form a good judgement and decide who better deserve the rights. However, if nothing works out and ultimately South African Team has to drop to the name, the public could be asked to pick a new name for the team instead of Bafana Bafana.
The Chairman of South African influential parliamentary committee of sports passed the parallel remarks on the issue and urged SAFA to address this problem to a peaceful solution. If the copyright issue doesn’t resolve, SAFA should change the term and opt for a new name.
In addition, Nematandani said that “We have brought it up because we felt that it was not doing us any good as an association”. He made this statement at SAFA’s headquarter which is next to the Soccer City stadium, which was the place for the World Cup final.
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