RANGERS launch an investigation after it emerged Mike Ashley now owns the club badges

[forlanssister 3,114]

From the infamous "Not to be Minuted" minutes:

 

BL: He returned the naming rights for 25% advertising rights at the stadium. The crest and badges are not part of this – they still belong to RFC.

[SteveC 150]

FORMER Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston has warned the club may have to abandon its crest and start afresh to beat Mike Ashley in the battle for its identity.

 

The shocked ex-Ibrox supremo was disgusted by the news that ownership rights of the club’s trademarks - including the iconic badge - were handed over to Ashley’s Sports Direct empire by his associate Derek Llambias in one of his last acts as chief executive before Dave King’s takeover.

 

Now Johnston - an expert in the field of corporate branding through his role as vice chairman of the powerful sports and media firm International Management Group - has warned their only option may be to redraw the club crest if Ashley plays hardball with King in his attempts to negotiate a deal to reclaim the club’s identity.

 

Johnston said: “At some point in time it may be that the only answer is to get as close as you can to what has not been passed on to Ashley and basically get the fan base committed to follow that.

 

“I don’t mean a new badge entirely but to get as close as you can get to it without trespassing on what Ashley thinks he’s got the rights to.

 

“I do a lot of trademarking, logo and licences around the world. It really depends on the registration and the tolerance of the authorities with respect to the time of the tenure and the territories involved

 

 

“Is this just the UK or are the rights worldwide? There are a whole of questions you need to ask before you come up with a strategy.

 

“But clearly there are certain things within the public domain that you can’t protect. They can’t protect the red, white and blue scarf.

 

“I’m not sure how much they could protect the Lion Rampant - but it’s the juxtaposition of Aye Ready and some of the other elements that you can protect under copyright.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-rangers-chairman-alastair-johnston-5496255?

Edited April 11, 2015 by SteveC

[buba3d 0]

ffs why the hell should we have to create a new badge and ident, just pay the bastard his 5 million

 

problem solved

Edited April 11, 2015 by buba3d

[SteveC 150]

ffs why the hell should we have to create a new badge and ident, just pay the bastard his 5 million

 

problem solved

 

They are still unsure whether that is the case or not, the STV report said they were still checking to see if there was a get-out clause for Ashley not to return the badges even after the £5 million was paid.

[Scott7 6,172]

The question is, does he have rights to specific designs and get-up, i.e. those existing at the date of the assignation or does he have right to whatever designs are to be the official badges in the future?

[colinstein 294]

This would be an opportunity to change the badge from "Ready" to "Aye Ready"

[Anchorman 0]

Is it all crests\badges i.e. the lion rampant one, and the RFC logo on the top?

[colinstein 294]

Is it all crests\badges i.e. the lion rampant one, and the RFC logo on the top?

 

yes....even "follow follow" and "broxibear"

[Anchorman 0]

Broxibear would be no loss.

[pete 2,499]

Broxibear would be no loss.

 

Och poor Broxi bear! You are a hard hard man.

Edited April 11, 2015 by pete