BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC
A SPECIAL coded device to prove authenticity will be attached to official merchandise manufactured for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, according to a tournament official.
Ned Gloster of the merchandising and licensing department of the tournament's organising committee said yesterday that the small DNA devise would be used to combat counterfeiters.
"The DNA protection programme will be used for authenticity," Gloster said.
"It will be passed under specially designed coded lights which would be able to tell if an item is real or a fake."
"There will be what could be termed DNA police and if someone is found guilty of handling a counterfeit item or product, it would be reported and the supporting legislation would lead to prosecution."
Gloster said that the intellectual property of items produced to be marketed as part of the Cricket World Cup had to be protected.
"The Cricket World Cup has now become a truly global event, and all the other elements that go along with an international event of this magnitude must be adhered to," he said.
"The DNA tag will also be able to track how many items are being sold, so it has an added element to it."
He said the tag could be attached to clothing, towels, bags and other novelty items being used to commemorate the event.
The ninth Cricket World Cup will be played in eight countries across the Caribbean from March 11 to April 28, 2007.
