A team from the Sol2023 Pacific Games Organizing Committee (GOC), accompanied by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) confiscated illegally printed and sold t-shirts from two Chinese shops in Honiara on Saturday.
A total 50 t-shirts that featured, ‘Solo’ the official Games Mascot on it were pulled off the shelves of Bisi shop and New Fashion shop at the Alvaro Building in Point Cruz.
Both shops are believed to have breached the Pacific Games Act.
The Act provides in Part 4, Intellectual Property and Media Rights to the National Hosting Authority (NHA) and the GOC.
The Act effectively disallows the use of Games Indicia (Brand, Logo, Distinctive Marks, Signs, Marks, Mascot Regalia, Merchandising, Naming, Marketing and Media Rights) without a license or authorization from NHA or the GOC.
The breaching of this Act and the unlicensed use of the Games Indicia will attract a maximum penalty of SBD$150,000.
Meanwhile the GOC has filed a case against both shops with investigations into the unauthorized production of these t-shirts ongoing.
This has brought about mixed reactions from the public.
Whilst many commend the action taken by the GOC and the police, others see it as a wakeup call for the GOC to starting promoting the Pacific Games through such merchandise.
GOC Media
