KEY POINTS:
A recently launched clothing label that uses "legendary" All Blacks to back its marketing campaign could be in breach of international copyright laws.
One of Haka New Zealand's shirts, with the letters "RCUK" emblazoned across the chest, is a take-off of globally successful fashion brand French Connection UK, or FCUK for short.
On its website, Haka New Zealand describes itself as "a leading importer of sporting goods and general merchandiser for major New Zealand and Australian retailers".
It uses the images of former All Blacks Todd Blackadder, Alan Whetton, Ian Jones, Wayne Shelford and Frank Bunce to help promote the brand. Haka New Zealand plans to sell the merchandise around the world from next year, and the rugby-inspired menswear range was modelled at a catwalk show at the Auckland Museum on Wednesday.
The company told the Weekend Herald an initial batch of 500 to 1000 "RCUK" shirts had already been produced.
The shirt has aroused the interest of the Australian head office of French Connection, which said it would refer the issue on to its counterparts in London.
Although Haka New Zealand director Robert Mills admitted yesterday the shirt had been modelled "tongue-in-cheek" on the French Connection UK label, he was confident his company was not in breach of international copyright laws.
"We've got patent people to check over the typeface, and it's not the same from a copyright perspective," he said.
However, Mr Mills said the issue could come down to a perception that the four letters could be mixed around another way to form a different word, and based on that he was "not sure where we stand".
Patent lawyers Baldwins had been employed to get clearance on copyrights, and Mr Mills said it was his understanding that there would be no legal issues.
Australian general manager of the French Connection label, Katy King, said she was unaware of the Haka New Zealand launch, but would take a look at the website to check out the shirt.
"If we think there's something untoward we point the issue in the direction of the UK and they will deal with it."
