“How could DAZA do this to us?” Exclaimed a spokesperson for ZOOFM. “And right here in Dubbo too. I thought DAZA was our mate,” they told radioinfo.
ZOOFM has been caught up in a global trend in which words, that have been in common use for centuries, are being copyrighted by the products after which they were originally named. For example, the French will tell you, in a charming French accent, “Non, monsieur, you cannot call your fizzy yellow cats’ piss champagne, unless it is actually from Champagne!”
More recently, a number of cheese makers of popular styles, such as Swiss and Gruyere, have tried, without success, to bar U.S. brands from using their names on local packaging. Which is, perhaps, more a reflection on the general quality of American cheese than a desperate bid to protect European trade.
Now, the World Association of Zoos (WAZOO) who represent 400 members worldwide, of which the Dubbo Australian Zoo Associaion (DAZA) is a a part, are intent on protecting their “brand” from other uses.
As a world-first test case, WAZOO have chosen to target ZOOFM in Dubbo, with DAZA as its spearhead, arguing that as a radio station, they do not meet the minimum criteria for being a zoo in that they don’t house animals.
“Have you ever met our announcing staff?”asks a Super Network spokesperson who begs to differ, “Have you ever smelled the pungent odour in the studio after the breakfast team’s been on a bender the night before? If that’s not bestial, I don’t know what is.”
In broken news on Saturday, April 1st, a group of protesters, wearing “Up the Wazoo!” T-shirts had surrounded the ZOOFM studios. Chanting:
“What do we want?
“We’re not sure!
“When do we want it? Now?
“No rush!”
Protesters were divided on whether “Up the Wazoo” was a positive or a negative statement.
Clap, Clap, Clap, good job, you got me. I was saying to my wife how ridiculous, what's the world coming to... then got the the 1st April bit...
Well done! Very creative.
It is matter of trademark registration rather than copyright.
Particularly registration of words such as "Champagne", "Whisky" and "Cognac" are known as Geographic Indicators, 'GI'. The EU has 134 GIs.
GIs require an application to a particular nation's IP office and evidence is required to use a GI as a trademark to the exclusion of other entities.
In this case it would be difficult to register 'Zoo' as a GI as there are zoos worldwide with little or no evidence of a zoo exclusively to a region in Dubbo.
In addition there is no body callwed Wazoo or Nazoo.
Therefore this is an April 1 prank.
Thank you,
Anthony, of lots of April 1 pranks rely on some facts missing like not being allowed to fly an aeroplane under The Harbour Bridge, Belfield, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation.