As soon as Tasmania got a licence to have an AFL team in 2028, the focus shifted to how that team would be named.
The obvious choice was the Tasmanian Devils.
However, Warner Bros, the company that owns the copyright to that name, was said to have something else on its mind and wouldn’t let the Tasmanian AFL team use the name.
Fortunately, a “happy” resolution may have already been found.
Rockliff: Tasmanians Should Choose the Name of the Team
Premier Jeremy Rockliff anticipated a potential dispute, so instantly reached out to the film company to make sure Tasmania can use the name.
The Premier said Tasmanians could use the name if they wanted, as it was their animal.
Rockliff added that what they were talking about was “a Tasmanians’ team” so Tasmanians would choose the name together.
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan shared Rockliff’s sentiments and backed the use of the name too, saying it made sense.
The AFL had already trademarked “Tassie Devils” and “Tasmania Devils.”
Warner Bros Expects a “Happy Solution Shortly”
It now seems that outgoing AFL chief Gillon McLachlan and Premier Jeremy Rockliff had every right to be optimistic, as Warner Bros confirmed they had spoken to the AFL and looked forward to “a happy solution shortly.”
In a brief statement released on Tuesday, Warner Bros Discovery said the Tasmanian Devil (Taz) was an iconic Looney Tunes character, but that the company appreciated AFL’s respect of registered rights.
Once that “happy solution” is reached, it will be up to the board the Tasmanian government, and the AFL will appoint to choose the name of the 19th AFL team.
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