AMAC press release re: Hoyts & Slav Film Festival

15 October 2010

 AMAC complains to Hoyts regarding naming of naming of The ‘Macedonian’ Film Festival and use of Vergina Sun.

The Australian Macedonian Advisory Council (AMAC) would like to express its disappointment at Hoyts Cinemas illegally using a registered trademark on their website to promote this year’s ‘Macedonian’ Film Festival in Melbourne to which they do not possess exclusive rights. The festival is running from 21-24 October,screening at Northland and Melbourne Central

The registered trade mark used is the symbol known as the Vergina Sun; an eight,twelve or sixteen-pointed solar pictogram registered with the World Intellectual Property Organisation as a trade mark of the Hellenic Republic: Hoyts.http://www.wipo.int/ipdl/en/6ter/key.jsp?KEY=GR1).

 it disapproves of the unauthorised use of intellectual property and misappropriation of Greek heritage to promote any event.

The use of this symbol on the Hoyts website is offensive to Melbourne’s Greek community, given it is part of its cultural heritage.

One instance of its use by Hoyts can be seen at the following web address:

AMAC has made a complaint to Hoyts requesting that they remove this symbol from their website and any other promotional material

AMAC has also complained to Hoyts regarding its incorrect use of the term ‘Macedonian’ to describe the film festival.

The term can only correctly be used to describe something relating to the Greek province of Macedonia,

and not relating to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as this film festival does.

AMAC awaits a response to its concerns.

Press contact: 

Address: P.O Box 119 Abbotsford VIC 3067

Email:info@macedonians.com.au

 

Phone: 0405713854  

Website: www.macedonian.com.au

 

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