World first as The New Saints register players' image rights
Shropshire based The New Saints FC has become the world's first professional football club to register its image rights, preventing the unauthorised use of photographs and other images of its players.
Chairman, Mike Harris, said today that the registration would protect The New Saints' corporate brand and also the privacy of its players, from children in its Academy to the first team squad.
Mr Harris has driver forward the registration saying he wanted to protect the huge investment made in developing players at every level.
"We take the privacy of our players very seriously and are pleased that The New Saints have become the first professional football club to complete an Image Rights registration. Whilst we are surprised to be first football club to do this, we know that other teams will follow this innovative initiative to protect their commercial interests and prevent the reputational damage caused by such abuses."
"Through the subsequent registration of its playing staff, the club can protect the privacy of its players, including more than 200 youngsters in the academy aged from seven to 18 years as well as the first team squad, against unauthorised commercial exploitation."
The registration was completed by Romanillos & Cook an independent intellectual property agency that specialises in image rights for individual and corporate clients.
Mr Harris explained that using legislation under Guernsey State laws, the only jurisdiction that offers world-wide image rights protection, it enables football clubs to ensure that images are used in an appropriate way to enhance player value. The agency then searches the internet and other media to identify unauthorised usage of images.
"Registering our image rights enhances the commercial value of our brand and gives additional protection for the years of hard work that we have undertaken, ensuring that the club is not tarnished by unauthorised third party usage," Mr Harris said.
"It also provides additional revenue streams and protects emerging stars at the academy, ensuring that the club benefits financially if they move to other teams."
The New Saints, which has its home at The Venue, Park Hall, regularly competes in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League as Welsh Premier Champion.