DEC 26: A battle to protect the name of cricket legend Don Bradman from commercial exploitation was stepped up here on Tuesday with police announcing the seizure of unauthorised memorablia.Australian Federal Police said 26 cricket bats and 29 wall plaques, many carrying the aging legend's signature, had been confiscated because of alleged trademark infringements.
Australian Federal Police spokesman Justin Conabere said investigators believed the signatures were genuine.
``The signatures were obtained by mail from the Don by the particular person, but in no way was it known by the Don .... that they were to be used for commercial enterprise,''he told reporters.
``I believe all the ones I've come across so far are legitimate signatures.''
Conabere said the items were being sold over the Internet and in retail outlets.
He said police were first alerted to the scam after receiving a complaint from a man who purchased one of the unauthorised items in Canberra.
Autographed items were offered for sale for thousands of dollars in some cases, investigators said.
Justice Minister Amanda Vanstone said the use of Bradman's signature had not been authorised by the Bradman Foundation, and Australians would be offended that a National icon's name was being exploited.
``This is someone trying to rip sporting fans off and trying to rip Sir Donald, or the Bradman Foundation, off,'' she told reporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Australia was playing the West Indies in the fourth Test.''
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
