When you go to the G, wear League Tees! View this email in your browser Why we took down our Tayla Harris tees + badges. Your support of our Tayla Harris #StandWithTayla tees has been incredible.



Because of your help we have donated $1002.75 to the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation to help them lift the living standards of Indigenous communities.



Thank you for helping to make a difference.



Today we had planned to release our Tayla tees in kids sizes. However this morning we received an email from the AFL demanding that we remove our Tayla Harris products from sale. The AFL alleges that they breach the AFL’s intellectual property rights.



Our Tayla Harris design is our own original artwork. Because we are financially unable to defend our rights and fight the AFL in court we have decided to withdraw our #StandWithTaylor product from sale.



We have communicated our position to the AFL. Here is the email response we have just sent:



"We refer to your email dated 26 March 2019.



We deny each and every allegation contained in your letter. In particular we deny that the Tayla Harris #standwithtayla t-shirt, Tayla Harris #standwithtayla badge in any way infringe on the AFL’s intellectual property or any other rights.



You have alleged that our conduct will mislead and deceive consumers into believing that there is some connection or sponsorship by the AFL of the goods and services provided by League Tees.



The leaguetees.com.au homepage states the following:



“Because we’re 100% independent our footy fan gear is not official AFL merchandise”



All product pages state the following:



“Because we’re 100% independent our retro footy gear is not officially licensed by the Australian Football League, SANFL, WAFL, AFL teams, SANFL teams, WAFL teams or any other official AFL bodies. To buy official AFL merchandise, AFL clothing and other AFL footy fan gear please visit Shop AFL here [‘here’ is a link directing visitors to shop.afl.com.au/ ].”



All League Tees products are sold exclusively at leaguetees.com.au.



Badges distributed by the AFL at the AFLW final on March 23 contain a silhouette representation of Tayla Harris that bears a likeness to art shared by social media users on the evening of March 18. The Tayla Harris inspired artwork created by League Tees is substantially different to any of these designs.



The designs identified by your email first went on sale on leaguetees.com.au at 8:00AM Wednesday March 20. The AFL’s photo of Tayla Harris first came to media prominence on the evening of Tuesday 19. It is impossible to suggest that this image was in the public consciousness for a sufficient time period for it to create a reputation benefit for the AFL.



In light of these clear disclaimers we do not believe there is any basis on which to allege that League Tees has engaged in conduct likely to mislead or deceive or conduct likely to be considered passing off.



You have alleged that the products complained about are likely to constitute copyright infringement of a photograph in which the AFL owns copyright. You have not identified or provided me with a copy of the photograph in which you claim rights. The designs, logos and artwork featured on our products are all original designs created in house. We deny that our original designs will be considered to be substantial reproduction of any work in which you hold rights.



You have alleged that the conduct complained about is likely to constitute trade mark infringement in breach of the provisions of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth). Please provide details of the registered trade mark in which you claim rights and which you allege has been infringed. I draw your attention to section 129 of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) which specifically prohibits the making of groundless threats of legal proceedings.



There appears to be no basis to the allegations contained in your letter, or the demands made.



Monies raised from the sale of products bearing our Tayla Harris inspired artwork have been donated to the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation. So far we have donated $1002.75 to this cause. Despite primarily being a charity fundraiser,we have decided to remove our Tayla Harris shirt and Tayla Harris badge from sale.



I trust that this matter is at an end." We can't say what's next for League Tees or how much longer we'll be around for. You can keep our #StandWithTayla campaign going by donating to the ANLF at their website here.



To all our loyal customers, thank you for your support over the journey.



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See you at the footy!



Anthony @ League Tees



