Wellington caught in war of woods
By DAVE BURGESS - The Dominion Post
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The US trademark owners of the iconic Hollywood sign have sought legal advice over the copycat Wellywood sign destined for Miramar.
Don't like the proposed Wellywood sign? Make your own here and email it to yourpics@stuff.co.nz
But the company behind the Wellington project is confident.
Wellington Airport has resource consent to put the 28-metre-long, 3.5m-tall Wellywood sign on land it owns next to the Miramar Cutting.
The non-notified consent – which the public did not get a chance to comment on – was approved by Wellington City Council but can be challenged in the High Court.
Spokesman for Sir Peter Jackson, Matt Dravitzki, said the Oscar winning director had suggested a font that copied the Hollywood sign.
"Having a big Wellywood sign surely pokes affectionate fun at Hollywood and the satire doesn't work if you're designing something that looks completely different."
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive Leron Gubler said the staggered Hollywood lettering was trademarked. "If they do that with the Wellywood sign then I would think that would be a violation of our trademark ... I am checking that with our attorney.
"The reason it is staggered in Hollywood is because it has to fit with the contours of the hill."
A one-line statement from Wellington Airport yesterday said: "We are confident we will meet all our legal obligations in relation to the sign."
The airport has refused to say how much it will cost to have the sign made off-site then installed in June.
Kiwi Kim Sinclair, who won a best art direction Oscar for Avatar, said the sign was `a bit of fun".
"Everybody in New Zealand should be really proud of the achievements of the New Zealand film industry which punches well above its weight."
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, who supports the sign, said the council's part in the project had been limited to dealing with the resource consent.
On skullandbones.co.nz more than 2000 alternate signs had been produced on a "Wellywood Generator".
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This American in love with your beautiful city thinks putting a sign up is a horrible idea!!! What separates you from Hollywood is what you should be proud of!! That is just a stain on Wellington's beauty. Grrr!
I wonder if Kerry Prendergast or WIAL have had a look at these comments. If this goes ahead she will be saying a big goodbye to another term...youd be silly if you were a mayorial candidate and you didnt jump on the no sign bandwagon!!!
FAIL
hope some1tags on it
Stupid as. Makes us look lame.
Plus it's really ugly.
Good to see our hicktown media still thinks this is a "news" worthy story that still has legs.
I think its a great idea and we should be proud of our thriving film industry. BRING IT ON!
It is not wellywood its is wellington, waste of money to make us look like hick, its getting the big thumbs down from this local.
So lame (with deepest respect to the lame).... But a great example of how hard it is to climb down when someone in 'authority' comes up with a really dumb idea. "Fresh each day" - not! Suck it up Mr Airport and Madam Mayor - dumb idea.
And then what? Stars on Courtenay Boulevard?
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EPIC FAIL!!!! Unless of course tackyness is the aim of the sign....in wich case... EPIC,EPIC,EPIC WIN!!!