“More Local, More Inclusive, More Interactive"
BCC issued a statement warning local entrepreneurs against using the city's crest without authorization.
BY DIVINE DUBE | @Village_scribe | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAY 1, 2021
BCC authorities have the moral and legal obligation to safeguard council assets, including intellectual property, but they should avoid overly censoring the use of the city’s crest as this could stifle economic development and set them on a collision path with residents.
BULAWAYO (The Citizen Bulletin) — A fortnight ago, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) issued a strong-worded press statement warning local entrepreneurs against using the city’s crest without authorization. A day earlier, the city’s figurehead, Solomon Mguni, had been involved in an altercation with a South Africa based Bulawayo entrepreneur over the use of the crest.
The entrepreneur who goes by the name Unique Signs had marketed shirts with the city crest on social media.
Whilst we don’t condone blatant violation of Intellectual Property (IP) laws by individuals or institutions, we found the tone of the city’s official statement to be too harsh for a public institution such as BCC. In particular, we were miffed by the mayor’s public involvement in the issue on social media immature.
The mayor, as an elected leader, derives his authority from the electorate who happen to be the same young people he chides on Facebook, calling them “hustlers”. While our organizational policies discourage us from aligning with any particular cause or position, we find it imperative that as a newsroom whose mission is to make the lives of the people of Matabeleland better through hyperlocal watchdog reporting and analysis, we call the mayor to order.
We are not experts in IP law, but when our leaders err it is our duty to hold them to account. We believe that instead of issuing press statements each time a local person or company uses the city’s crest, BCC authorities must consider inviting “hustlers” to use the mayor’s lingo, to register their interest for using the city’s crest.
This could be done quarterly or annually and applicants might be asked to pay royalties to boost the city’s revenue base. Alternatively, instead of prohibiting local entrepreneurs from using the crest for commercial or nonprofit purposes, the city could embark in the production of branded material and sell to residents who are proud to be associated with the city they call home.
ALSO READ: Why Our Journalism Is WhatsApp Driven
We believe that if BCC is keen on shifting its economic development strategy towards a “support local” orientation, it could use a number of potentially powerful approaches. But there’s at least one tactic city officials should avoid: blocking young people who are already sidelined in many other economic opportunities including tenders, from using locally available resources, the city’s crest included, from launching their small businesses.
An uncomfortable truth for city officials is that they actually become a dangerous crutch to local startups if they opt for censorship instead of regulation as far as the council’s IP is concerned. As a way forward, we would like to urge BCC authorities to create a ladder for engagement so as to guide those who might want to use the crest in future, instead of releasing statements that polarize residents.
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our privacy policy.
