What Is Copyright, and Why Does It Matter for IHNZ Clubs?
What Is Copyright, and Why Does It Matter for IHNZ Clubs?
IHNZ
Recently, a question was raised about why IHNZ's desire for affiliated clubs to respect copyright laws. To clarify: IHNZ has not asked any club to trademark their logos. While clubs are welcome to trademark their logos if they wish, our focus is simply on ensuring that clubs affiliated with IHNZ own the copyright for their logos.
So, what is copyright? It’s a legal protection automatically granted to creators of original works, including logos, music, videos, and written content. Copyright gives the creator exclusive rights to use, reproduce, and share their work. In New Zealand, copyright is free and applies the moment an original work is created—no registration is required.
Why is this important for clubs? Because not owning the copyright to your logo raises significant ethical concerns. Using a logo or design that infringes on someone else’s copyright is not only a legal risk but also morally wrong. It undermines the creator's rights, disregards their effort, and violates the principles of fairness and respect that are fundamental to our sport.
By ensuring your club owns the copyright to its logo, you protect your brand identity and avoid future disputes.
Here’s what we recommend:
Own Your Work: Confirm that your club has full ownership of its logo’s copyright. If someone else created it, make sure a formal agreement transfers copyright to the club.
Avoid "Borrowing" Logos from the Internet: ensure your logo is truly yours.
If you have any questions about copyright or need guidance, the IHNZ communications team is here to help. Let’s work together to build a stronger, more ethical, and compliant inline hockey community.
