Kiwi's scrap with Coca-Cola world famous in NZ
BY WILLIAM MACE
Should Coca-Cola be allowed to trademark the saying "World Famous in New Zealand"?
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A Paeroa man has taken on a multinational company in an intellectual property rights dispute over the phrase "World Famous in New Zealand".
Tony Coombe has objected to Coca-Cola Amatil's attempt to trademark the saying. The dispute played out yesterday at an Intellectual Property Office hearing in Auckland.
Coca-Cola has used the slogan to promote its L&P soft drink, which has its spiritual home in the Hauraki Plains town of Paeroa, since 1993 – though the company applied for the trademark only in 2004.
But Mr Coombe owns a non-trading company named World Famous in New Zealand and said he believed the phrase, a "Kiwi-ism", belonged to all New Zealanders. Coca-Cola disagreed, saying the words were clearly connected to its product and the trademark application should proceed.
Mr Coombe previously owned and ran the L&P Cafe in Paeroa with his business partner John Tregidga. After using the L&P name for six years, Coca-Cola forced the cafe and associated companies to change their titles.
The partners renamed the companies with their own initials – J&T – and Mr Coombe sold out in 2003 but still believes the use of the "World Famous" phrase should be unrestricted.
"Coca-Cola just want to control everything and World Famous in New Zealand has been around for a long time and now they're trying to control it," Mr Coombe said after the hearing.
"It's more or less part of everyday language so I thought I'd put my hand up and say 'No'."
His lawyer, David Marriot, argued that the phrase was used in the title of a book, a CD and a television series and had entered the Kiwi vernacular.
In its submission Coca-Cola said that its advertising agency invented the slogan in 1993. A commissioner's decision is expected in six to eight weeks.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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World famous in New Zealand was the tag line used when I was a kid, I was born mid 70's and rememeber during the 80's this being used. So I think Coca Cola should go and try and take over something else.
I do think it is a pity that NZ gave in and sold L&P to them, pity we can't hold on to our things. The Scots have held onto Irn Bru and coke hate it because it out sells coke in Scotland, so much for world control for them. Char
I thought Fred Dagg coined the term 'World famous in NZ.'
This saying is ABSOLUTELY associated with L&P and they should have the rights to it. Don't be h8rs (haters for the middle class ignorant liberals reading this) just because Coca Cola is a big company. Sheesh
Coke has lost a customer.. with this nonsense.. The attitude of some large corporates trademarking anything that moves.. is ridiculous..
It's clearly associated with L&P, owned by CCA so it's theirs. Simple as that. This guy is using the public for his own personal gain, much worse than CCA actually claiming what is rightfully theirs. Build a bridge moaners
I agree with some people on here saying that its just a bit greedy of coca cola and they are bullying the little guy. Though I have to make a correction to a comment about Santa. Coca cola did not invent Santa, however they did make him red. His suit was originally black. You can still find black santa hats around sometimes...
I agree that Mr Coombe is cheeky to bring 'kiwi-isms' into the argument to get us on side. It seems to me that CCA have every right to trademark the saying - it is clearly associated with L&P, not some backwater non-trading company.
I too remember using it back in the 80's - which is why I thought the tag line was so un-original when I first heard it being used for L&P. It's hardly unique to L&P...
Hi tools, the first I heard the phrase "world famous in New Zealand" was for a L&P commercial on television, L&P being owned by Coke. The country isnt being copyrighted just that exact phrase, Mr Coombes needs to get a life.
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Re: anon #77, "anon #65" didn't say it was his friends in accounts - he said his friend who worked as a copywriter (that's someone who writes advertising copy) on the account (i.e. the advertising campaign). And this slogan has been used for nearly 17 years for advertising L&P - a lot longer than the decade or so that you claim the Australians have been using it for.