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Friday 30 November 2012

Top 7 Tips to Start Marathon Training

Deciding to run a marathon isn’t a decision to be made lightly. It is a huge achievement when you have completed it but, as many people can testify, marathons can be graveyards of egos – especially if you haven’t trained correctly. Here are some tips from the team at the Limassol Marathon to help you get started 1. Check with your Doctor before you begin training - Running a marathon is a gruelling test of mental and physical strength so check with your doctor that you aren’t taking on more than you can cope with 2. Learn about the course – Once you have chosen your marathon, research what kind of route it is – eg flat or hilly; warm or mild weather; crowded or quiet? Find out the conditions and then adapt your training program to reflect this, for example, when training, only run in the sun. For novice runners whilst it may be fun to get a race like the London or New York marathon under your belt, it is less intimidating – and you will get a much faster time – if you look at flat marathon courses and less crowded options – Limassol is a perfect beginners marathon. 3. Prepare a schedule – This will depend on how long you have to prepare but regardless of lead time, marathon training is a big commitment which will be much easier to cope with if you have a proper training schedule 4. You can’t out train a bad diet – Training is not an excuse to stuff yourself with all the junk food you want simply because you are burning more calories. Long distance running requires sticking to a good nutritional plan, you need to eat fat-friendly starchy and carb loaded food to ensure you have plenty of energy to go the distance – and stay hydrated! Drink at least a litre of water before running and keep taking on water whilst you train 5. Dress for success – If nothing else buy a decent pair of running shoes as this will ensure you avoid nasty knee, hip and back injuries. Ideally this means getting your gait (running stride) analysed which is a service a lot of running shops offer. Otherwise wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and if you are training at night on the roads, wear something with high visibility so other road users can spot you. 6. Mentally prepare – Many people make the mistake of thinking marathons are a purely physical endeavour but being prepared mentally is just as important. Start a training log so you can track your progress, adopt a mantra to get you through your long workouts and create a playlist of songs or stories that motivate you to keep going. It may also be worth finding a training buddy or running club – you are less likely to bail out of a training run if you know you have someone waiting for you 7. Push your limits – Don’t get stuck in a rut where you stick to a pace and routine within your capabilities. Mix things up with hill runs and sprints – they will improve your speed and fitness as well as keep your training more interesting The Limassol Marathon in Cyprus is being run on the 24th of March in 2013 and that means you’ve got just over four months to get yourself fighting fit for the challenge! Bio run by the sea, Limassol is the host venue for one of the most picturesque international half marathons.php in Europe. It is popular amongst experts seeking fast marathon courses or novices simply wanting to run abroad

Thursday 29 November 2012

Rhino Recruits Rugby League Brand Ambassadors

This week Leeds Rhinos star Ryan Hall was appointed as a brand ambassador for Rhino and can be seen wearing the RhinoGB AW12 Core Polo by following the link below. Ryan Hall RhinoGB Ryan Hall is an English professional rugby league player for the Rhinos of Super League. An England international representative winger, he has played his entire professional career to date with the Leeds Rhinos, having won the 2008, 2009, 2011 & 2012 Super League Grand Finals with them. Rhino Rugby, having recently won the contract as Official Ball Supplier for the Rugby Football League and the Super League for the next three years, have also recruited James Roby of St Helens as a Rugby League Brand Ambassador. Managing Director of Rhino Rugby League and former Saints CEO Tony Colquitt comments: "I am delighted to welcome two world class English players to the Rhino Rugby League brand. Both Ryan and James will be working with Rhino Rugby League to activate our plans within the game. "The players will feature in promotional materials and in store activation programmes with Rhino Rugby League’s key trade partners. "The players will also be developing their own range of balls. Rhino Rugby League is committed to delivering world class bespoke products to the game and the signing of Ryan and James signals our intentions." James Roby commented, "I am delighted to sign with Rhino Rugby League and very excited by some of the plans that they have in place. "It’s great that a famous brand such as Rhino is now committing to League." Ryan Hall commented, "Rhino is a world class brand and I am delighted to be working with them. "I know fans and clubs alike will be delighted with the plans in place." The navy core polo is RhinoGB's essential polo; redesigned and continued from season to season it is a trusted and fundamental part of the RhinoGB retro rugby collection. Because the core polo shirt is so popular RhinoGB retail this classic polo all year around. The White Core Polo and the Navy Core Polo that Ryan Hall is wearing in the picture above are available throughout the year and are always popular with rugby teams, rugby supporters and followers of the heritage clothing brand! RhinoGB also produces the core polo in seasonal colours as well as the ever popular rugby hoody.. Made from 100% Cotton Piqué, it has the RhinoGB rugby crest badge embroidered on the chest as you would find on traditional sports teams polo shirts. On the opposite side it has the GBR embroidery in a contrasting colour.

Take a Lesson From Our Cycling Heroes and Get On Your Bike!

In the aftermath of the Olympics and Bradley Wiggins’ historic performance at the Tour de France there was a huge spike in the numbers of Brits cycling in the UK on their bikes as the nation relished in the glory of their athletes and harnessed the inspiration brought by a summer of sporting splendour. Cycling’s fan base soared, with Halfords recording a 14.7 per cent rise in cycling sales in its second quarter. While you may not be the next Pendleton or Wiggins, cycling has endless health and fitness benefits, so here are five good reasons you should consider following in the footsteps of your cycling heroes: 1. A study done by the British Medical Association on 10,000 people showed that riding a bicycle for at least 20 miles per week lessens your risk of contracting coronary heart disease by almost 50 per cent. 2. Cycling gives tremendous results for improving your cardiovascular fitness. This is because cycling makes the heart pound steadily, increasing your heart’s fitness by three to seven per cent. 3. It can help shed those extra pounds. Depending on the speed of your rides and the terrain you're covering, mountain biking can burn between 10 and 16 calories a minute, or 600 to 1,000 calories per hour from more challenging forms such as off-road. Visit 1 South West’s mountain biking UK page to find some challenging MTB trails. 4. Biking just two to three hours a week can improve your lung capacity by up to 20 per cent, making hiking up stairs or running for the bus in everyday life more of a breeze. If possible, consider cycling to work or school and you will complete two to three hours in no time each week. 5. Biking gives you the same hard-core aerobic exercise as a run, but without all those shocks to the ankles, knees and hips. For the same reason, it's a good sport for those returning from injury and can help to improve tendon strength without any load-bearing. The South West is one of the most popular destinations for cycling holidays in the UK and indeed Europe due to its array of beautiful scenery for the inexperienced riders and challenging trails for the more accomplished cyclists. It is home to some unforgettable cycle routes that are certain not to disappoint. So whether you are looking for a fun way to get in shape or the perfect family activity, head to the South West this Summer. Don’t worry if you don’t own a bike, there are plenty of bike hire facilities throughout the region. 1 South West provides information on cycle routes, MTB trails , UK cycling holidays and cycling news for all, from novice riders to experienced mountain bikers.

Thursday 22 November 2012

Will McAlpine bring order to the Twitter playground?

From personal privacy to the reputation (and finances) of company brands, the influence of Twitter is profound. Twitter users have been operating under the misapprehension that Twitter is a safe haven to abuse, scandalise and defame for some time now. Lord McAlpine’s reported legal action against “10,000 Twitter users” may well be the jab in the arm the Twittersphere needs. Many commentators have argued in recent weeks that Twitter is a different case and should therefore be treated differently in the eyes of the law. Not so. Publication on Twitter is the same as publication in any other medium and as such should take its place in a comprehensive media management package. The microblogging site, and other social media and blogs, are increasingly influential, to the extent that Philip Schofield and ITV (in creating their own difficulties) relied wholly on “3 minutes” of online search to “out” alleged paedophiles to David Cameron live on This Morning. A campaign (whether against a company’s product or service, or whether a spiteful campaign against an individual) can very quickly pick up pace and support online and become a reputational or privacy nightmare. Following legal advice, Lord McAlpine has reportedly accepted £185,000 damages from the BBC relating to the original false allegations - what can the Twitterati expect? The first question Tweeters will be asking (or asking their lawyers) is whether their Tweet was defamatory of McAlpine. Sally Bercow, the most high profile individual in the McAlpine headlights, has already publicly claimed that her Tweet was not defamatory. She seems to rely on the fact that her Tweet made no actual allegation (the Tweet said simply “Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*”). To be defamatory a publication must make a false allegation which lowers the claimant in the opinion of readers. The test is what the ordinary reader would understand the publication meant. In order to show that the ordinary Bercow Tweep would draw the defamatory meaning then McAlpine’s lawyers will have to show a so-called “innuendo meaning” - that the ordinary reader is likely to have extrinsic facts in mind when reading the Tweet (i.e. the BBC allegations and the claim that the identity of the person alleged was being routinely leaked on Twitter). And what of ReTweeters? Well, the law is no kinder to someone who passes on a defamatory allegation. Each new Tweet, or ReTweet, is a new publication. The FA held Rio Ferdinand responsible for ReTweeting the infamous “choc ice” Tweet and a court of law would be no different in relation to a defamatory Tweet. Bercow’s Tweet was ReTweeted 146 times. Those individuals may have less to fear than Bercow though. McAlpine’s lawyers have reportedly assured “ordinary people” (whatever they are!) that McAlpine will only be seeking nominal charitable donations of between £5 and £100 from them. Bercow, and other high profile Twitter users such as George Monbiot, may not be so lucky. Bercow had 56,000 followers when she Tweeted about McAlpine. Given the 146 ReTweets the potential audience is very large. Mrs Bercow has embraced her public figure status, kept a verified account with a large following and must therefore accept that she held a high responsibility in what she Tweeted. Damages in libel are assessed on the basis of many factors including distress to the victim and the extent to which his/her reputation is damaged. The seriousness of the allegation and the size of audience will have a massive bearing on both. Assessing damages in libel is notoriously difficult. Knowing the amount of damage caused is incredibly difficult as it is unknown exactly where the allegations have been read. Twitter is instant and cannot be undone and, within hours or even minutes, a damaging Tweet can spread and spiral out of control. Ashley Cole deleted his infamous #bunchoftwats Tweet within 1 hour, not before it had been ReTweeted 19,000 times. Tweet in haste, repent at leisure.

Take Your Cycling to the Next Level

While you can build your leg muscles to the point of bulge research has shown that improving your core strength could be just as important in improving your cycling stamina. To prevent those lower back aches and slowing corners it is essential to strengthen your core muscles to get the best out of your legs. By gaining stability in your abs and lower back you will help to eliminate unnecessary upper-body movement so that all your energy can be delivered in smooth pedal strokes, which are essential when tackling the tough terrain of somewhere like Cardinham Woods. Cycling’s tripod position, which requires the saddle, pedals and handlebar to support your weight, relies on core strength, but unfortunately doesn’t help to build it. So if you’re ready to take your cycling to the next level why not try the following core-building routine as recommended by 1 South West. It takes just 10 minutes and if performed three-to-four times a week could see you achieving your cycling goals. Love cycling and mountain biking in the UK and looking to improve your every pedal? Let’s get to work! 1. Plank a. What it works and why: Transverse abdominals, upper and lower back. This will help to build strength and muscular endurance in your torso which will prevent reliance on the bike’s handlebars. b. Lying on your stomach place your elbows at shoulder level with hands and forearms in front. Keeping feet together lift your hips off the floor, creating a straight line from shoulders to heels. c. Hold for 30 seconds and rest for 15. Repeat 3 times. 2. Power Bridge a. What it works and why: Hip flexors, glutes and lower back. This movement will stretch hip flexors and strengthen the link between your lower back and glutes. b. Lie on back and place heels near glutes with arms at side. Squeezing your glutes raise your hips towards the ceiling to form a straight line from shoulders to knees and hold for 2 seconds before lowering your hips a couple of inches from floor before raising again. c. Repeat movement continuously for 20 seconds before resting for 10 and repeat 3 times. 3. V-Sit a. What it works and why: Transverse, abdominals and lower back. As with the plank this move will improve the core strength needed for when bent over the handlebars for hours. b. Sitting on the floor lift your legs straight to form a 90 degree angle with your upper-body by extending your arms forward at shoulder height. Hold your abs tight. If you feel your hamstrings tightening bend your knees a little. c. Hold the following move for 30 seconds, followed by 15 seconds rest. Repeat 3 times. 4. Scissor Kick a. What it works and why: Transverse abdominals, hip flexors, inner and outer thighs. Improving these muscles which help you achieve hip, knee and forefoot alignment, which will deliver an efficient pedal stoke. b. Lie on your back with your legs straight and arms by your sides. Raise your shoulders off the floor as your raise your legs around 3-4 inches off floor and cross them over one another repeatedly, ‘scissor’ them. c. Do exercise continuously for 20 seconds before resting for 10. Repeat 3 times 5. Transverse Plank a. What it works and why: Transverse abdominals and obliques. By improving these muscles you will improve your saddle stability. b. Lie on your side with your elbow under your shoulder placing your one leg on top of other and raise your free arm overhead. Lift your hips to create a straight line down your body then lower hips a few inches off floor before lifting again. c. Repeat exercise for 20 seconds before switching sides. Repeat 3 times each side.

Rhino Rugby has the X Factor

Last weekend on the very popular British talent show The X–Factor, contestant Rylan Clarke made a dramatic entrance, parachuting on to the stage to start his medley of Spice Girls hits. The stunt was a feast for the eyes, not just because of his high energy performance but because he was wearing RhinoGB’s very own Union Jack Jacket as a clear call back to Geri Halliwell’s infamous Union Jack dress. The X-factor stylist’s added their own sparkle to the jacket by customising it with jewels especially for Rylan’s performance. Rylan is just the latest of an ever growing list of celebrities who are donning the Union Jack. The cult following of this unique piece of clothing started in 2010 when JB Gill, of the X-Factor produced boy band JLS, donned the jacket in their video clip ‘The Club is Alive’ which has close to half a million hits on YouTube. Later in 2010 Louis Spence, of Pineapple Studios fame, was spotted in the jacket at an event with X-Factor alum, series seven winner, Matt Cardle. Even cult figure David Hasselhoff is on the action. The former Baywatch and Britain’s Got Talent judge wore the jacket when he was a guest on Sky TV’s Soccer AM show at Christmas time 2010. A few months after that Ollie Locke, one of the stars of Made in Chelsea, stopped by heritage clothing and retro rugby brand RhinoGB to get his hands on one, he was then filmed wearing it on the hit TV show. In May this year the jacket was included in a special fashion exhibition down in Brighton. The exhibit was displaying fashions that used the Union Jack as a fabric or design inspiration. RhinoGB, which also produces rugby hoodies, was featured amongst top British designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Jasper Conran, John Rocha, Alice Temperley, Stephen Jones, Barbour and Doctor Martens. Other stars that have been spotted out and about donning the Union Jack include Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrel star Ronnie Fox who wore it to the St George’s Day film premier and Gia Marie Barbera who wore it to London Fashion Week. 2012 has been a tremendous year for Great Britain with the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, there is no better time to show your true colours and where your national pride on your sleeve! Rhino’s values of toughness, reliability, integrity, heritage and team spirit are born out of the game of rugby itself.

Why you should swap the gym for the Great Outdoors

Sick of spending time in sweaty, crowded gyms? Why not turn to the great outdoors. Not only will using mother nature as your fitness playground look to save you money but studies have proven it is better for your health. cycling in the UK is accessible to everyone. Here are five good reasons to grab your trainers, mount your bike and head for the hills: 1. Rocket your levels of Vitamin D. With many of us trapped in the confines of our office for the majority of the day don’t put yourself back into a sweatbox gym. Sunlight on your skin (we aren’t talking sun worshipping here) sparks vitamin D production, which has been suggested to fight a magnitude of conditions from osteoporosis and cancer to depression and heart attacks. Try to combine this limited sun exposure with a good source of vitamin D supplements to secure a healthy regime. 2. Work yourself harder! Instead of sitting on a stationary spin bike why not grab your mountain bike and head for some off-road cycling, which will test you against the elements and push your body to its limits. If you make getting outside a goal, that should mean less time in front of the television and computer and more time walking and doing other things that put the body in motion. 3. Improve your concentration. It has been proven that children with ADHD seem to focus better after being outdoors. So if you find you have trouble concentrating why not try some outdoor activity to help you focus. 4. Prevent Injuries. Exercising on a natural surface can have tremendous benefit on your musculoskeletal system. In order to continue to improve musculoskeletal health uneven or natural terrain like grass fields, trails, hills, and other obstacles should be tackled. This can significantly decrease the risk of foot, ankle and knee injuries. 5. Get that happy feeling. According to Dr. Andrew Lepp at Kent State University, outdoor activities can prevent and reduce stress, increase self-esteem, and offer a sense of challenge and adventure. So if active outside pursuits replace inactive slumps in front of the TV, it might also mean more smiles. 1 South West can help you find where to go cycling and give you some ideas of things to do in the south west. For more information, visit the website here .

Friday 16 November 2012

The Devil is in the Detail

There is a drive towards increasing professionalisation within the world of sports PR, marketing and sponsorship as well as agency which has developed over the past decade. This has led to an increased focus on the minutiae within contract negotiation; an absolute necessity when you consider some of the recent evidence. In early August Manchester United was reported to have broken the world record for a shirt sponsorship deal signing a seven year, £357m agreement with Chevrolet. Meanwhile, Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ market report at the end of 2011 said that sponsorship was now only two or three years away from outstripping gate receipts as a source of income across all major sports. With large amounts of money at stake the potential for disputes is significant with disagreements over what each side hopes and expects to receive thrown into sharp focus. Wayne Rooney’s case against his former agents Proactive illustrates the tension between the sides when the terms of the deal – in that case the length of an agency contract – can raise questions about restraint of trade. Five and ten year deals are not uncommon in sports sponsorship and when one party is tied to a long deal the same question has to be asked as to whether the contract is reasonable and enforceable. Disputes are often the result of insufficient business planning from one or both of the parties and often happen because of a lack of vision, attention to detail and communication. It’s all about measuring performance and success (metrics) and placing a value on that achievement so if you take for example the sponsorship of a player by a brand or the contract he or she has with a club, milestone payments will have to be considered carefully; how will that player be remunerated for scoring winning goals or tries, becoming player of the season and so on? David Casement QC provided legal advice for Charlie Adam in his dispute with his then club Blackpool who argued, wrongly, that Charlie was entitled to a bonus if they stayed in the Championship but not if (as happened) they were promoted to the Premier League! Conversely the club will have expectations of its own, such as the player’s or brand’s promotional responsibilities and any potentially competing duties they may have. The awarding party’s expectations of a player’s behaviour when under contract has also been placed under the spotlight recently by the actions of players accused of racism on the pitch. Also, sponsors have to ensure they are not embarrassed and a well planned contract will include a “non-embarrassment clause” to this effect which should allow for termination and/or a claw back of money in the event of the need for crisis management. The hope is that sponsors will bring pressure to bear on clubs to ensure that players conduct does not damage the brand.

Thursday 15 November 2012

A Beginner's Guide to Off Road Cycling

Starting out in any sport can be intimidating and it’s never nice admitting you’re a ‘beginner’, but don’t let it put you off from experiencing the adventure of a lifetime. The 1 South West project in England, who are dedicated to ensuring everyone experiences a great off-road adventure in the area, has worked with cyclists at all levels and has put together some great advice to get you on the off-road track and on your way to achieving your south west mountain biking ambitions. Firstly, If you haven’t been on a bike for a while or don’t feel like a confident rider then don’t let it put you off. Being honest about your current ability is the most important step to having a great adventure. Fitness also comes into it; perhaps you don’t want to find yourself climbing steep hills. You may have never ridden a bike off-road. Most good off-road areas will have graded MTB trails to help you determine the best option. 1SW for example has green or blue trails, green being the easiest and great paths for beginners or those wanting to improve their rusty-technique. Blue trails are then for the next step up, once you’ve gained some confidence these will provide you with a bit more of a challenge. For those who are just learning to ride a bike, try a Trail Hub or Promoted Route as these will offer a mostly care-free experience and should have a well-maintained surface throughout the year. While you may have bundles of enthusiasm when starting out it is always good practice to remain aware when going off-road. Novices contemplating Green or Blue graded landscape rides should keep in mind that trail conditions may have deteriorated since the route was last surveyed. Landscape Rides tend to vary depending on weather conditions as many are un-surfaced. These types of routes will tend to suit novice riders who are already outdoor enthusiasts but are looking to explore on two wheels rather than on foot. Remember that the grading system refers to the technical challenge of the trail, not how long it is, so it’s always good to check this before setting off to make sure your fitness is up to the challenge. Check out the 1SW site at www.1sw.org.uk for a complete guide to starting out on an off-road adventure and make sure you are set for the ride of your life.

Thursday 8 November 2012

Image is Everything

In our society we are consumed by our obsession with celebrity status. Businesses recognise this and are increasingly eager to show personalities endorsing their products. Exploitation of “image rights” is therefore big business and a giant revenue generator. What is an “image right”? An image right is a person’s right to their own persona, including the right to prevent or restrict others from using their name, likeness or logos/slogans How are image rights protected? It seems strange then to think that, under UK law, there is no codified regime of image or personality rights which means that when individuals wish to protect proprietary rights or “brands” and prevent unauthorised use of names, likeness or other characteristics, they need to rely on a variety of statutory and case law. The various rights and causes of action are explained below: Passing Off In its traditional sense, the law of passing off protects the goodwill or reputation attached to goods or services sold by a trader under or by reference to a brand name, trading “style” or “get up” and gives the owner of that goodwill or reputation the right to bring an action to prevent the “passing off” of the offending imitation. Passing off occurs where the owner can demonstrate that: (1) the mark/style/”get up” is recognised by the public as distinctive of the owner’s goods or services; and (2) a misrepresentation has been made by the offending trader leading or likely to lead the public to believe that its goods or services are either those of, or are endorsed by or associated with, the owner; and (3) that it has suffered or is likely to suffer damage as a result. The Eddie Irvine decision in 2002 (Edmund Irvine & Tidswell Ltd –v- Talksport Ltd [2002]EWHC 367), however, marked a watershed in the evolution of the law of passing off (at least as far as image and personality rights are concerned) and it became clear that passing off could be extended to allow famous people with sufficient goodwill in their name and image to protect that name and image from unauthorised exploitation in a way in which suggested that the celebrity had endorsed a product or service. In this case, Eddie Irvine, the Formula One racing driver issued proceedings against Talksport radio for their unauthorised use of his image on promotional literature. The photograph used by Talksport was one of Irvine with a mobile phone but Talksport digitally manipulated the photo to show him, instead, listening to a radio with “Talk Radio” emblazoned across it. It was the digitally manipulated photo that was placed on marketing literature. Irvine argued that the use of the photograph amounted to passing off as it gave the impression that he had endorsed the promotional literature. The court found in Irvine’s favour and ruled that for a passing-off action to succeed in a false endorsement case, the claimant needs to prove that at the time of the acts complained of he had a significant reputation or goodwill and that the actions of the defendant gave rise to a false message which would be understood by a not insignificant section of his market that his goods had been endorsed, recommended or approved of by the claimant; and that, on the evidence, the claimant raised a significant reputation management issue, in that not an insignificant number of recipients of the brochure would assume that he had endorsed the defendant’s product. So, in light of this decision, celebrities have solid ground upon which to object to any promotional or advertising material that may suggest that they have endorsed or are associated with the products or services in question, when in fact no consent or authorisation has been given. In such cases, the remedies available are injunctive relief – i.e. the removal of the offending material from sale/circulation and damages equivalent to what the celebrity in question would likely have received for the endorsement had it been legitimate. Furthermore, following the implementation of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, claiming a product has been endorsed when it has not is also now a criminal offence – carrying a possible unlimited fine and up to a two year prison term. Trade Marks Trade Marks protect signs capable of distinguishing goods or services of one trader from those of another. The sign must be capable of being represented graphically (e.g. words, logos, symbols) and must be “distinctive”. Personalities who are interested in exploiting their image or brand for commercial gain are now routinely registering trade marks both to commercialise their brand and to strengthen their rights so as to help to prevent unauthorised third parties from using their names, images or other characteristics. Examples of trade marks registered by personalities include the words DAVID BECKHAM for a range of goods, including perfumes, shaving lotions, hair lotions, sunglasses, watches and precious stones; and the words GORDON RAMSAY for goods and services including, food items, condiments, menus, stationery and catering services, . However, recent Trade Mark Registry guidance and practice has indicated that a famous person’s name will generally be regarded as merely descriptive of goods which are “mere image carriers” – such as posters or stickers. Descriptive marks are devoid of any distinctive character and therefore not registrable. For example, Sir Alex Ferguson‘s application to register the mark ALEX FERGUSON was refused in relation to “image carrier” goods such as posters and stickers. The registration was, however, allowed for goods such as clothing and wrist-watches. It is easy to understand how the mark ALEX FERGUSON is considered merely descriptive of a picture bearing Alex Ferguson’s image and in instances where pictures or images are used without consent in a way which suggests an endorsement, celebrities will have to rely on the common law right of passing off. And in those instances where images are used in such a way as to suggest no endorsement it seems that there is no recourse for celebrities under either trade mark or passing off law. There may yet be some redress in the areas of privacy and data protection (in certain circumstances) as explained below. Privacy The Human Rights Act provides that all UK legislation must be interpreted in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 8 of the Convention provides that everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life. So if publication of a photograph is likely to be particularly invasive to a personality’s private life then the Courts can intervene to prevent publication of such photographs. For example in Theakston v MGN [2002] All ER (D) 182 an injunction was granted to prevent publication of photographs depicting a TV presenter’s brothel antics even though the Court refused to restrain publication of a verbal depiction of the story. Privacy laws will not, however, prevent the publication and/or sale of images which do not invade a person’s privacy. So, privacy law may prevent the publication and sale of photos of sports personalities’ children or personal events where such publication would be considered an invasion of privacy but would not prevent the publication and sale of posters depicting footballers playing football. Data Protection There may also be some scope to rely upon the Data Protection Act for compensation where photographs of celebrities are published without their consent. A photograph of a celebrity will be considered “personal data” within the meaning of the Act provided that person can be identified from the photograph. Further, personal data can only be processed where certain conditions are met and usually only where the “data subject” has consented to such processing. Consent can, however, be implied in certain circumstances and again where a footballer is playing a game, it is arguable that by playing the game on the public stage he has impliedly consented to personal data about him during that game being processed. However, if photographs are taken which a personality would objectively object to, then the publication of those photos is likely to be a breach of the Data Protection Act, for which the celebrity can claim compensation. Advertising Standards Finally, the various advertising codes may afford some level of media management protection to sports personalities for unauthorised use of their images. The CAP code which covers non-broadcast advertising (i.e. magazines, bill-boards etc) includes a provision that marketers should not imply personal approval for an advertised product where consent has not been given and the TV Code states that living people must not be portrayed, caricatured or referred to in advertisements without their permission. However, whilst the Codes can be used by complainants to seek withdrawal of the adverts in questions, damages are not available to the complainants – unlike in a passing off action. Conclusion Whilst we do not have a perfect “unified” system to protect image rights in the UK, the combination of the above rights and causes of action do afford a decent level of protection which enables celebrities to exploit and protect their image and brand very effectively. The above rights should form part of a comprehensive crisis management plan for sporting celebrities.