Footy Forum shut down by AFL

[Eunos]

The Hawkheadquarters forum is being closed after they were threatened with legal action by the AFL.
The AFL objected to the use of AFL copyrighted material, this being the club name, image, colors and emblems.
A sign of things to come for all independent footy sites? Are the AFL trying to boost their internet revenue rights?
As the guys who run the site said "thin end of the wedge".


Eunos

[Didaicos]

Companies are just pissed off that they can't control the internet. Seriously, they go on about de-regulation, but they are always the first ones to bring in the lawyers....

[Proud Pies]

something to ensure all fans are turned off the AFL

[Cam]

you'd reckon bomberblitz could be in trouble then, and saintsational, they have stacks of banners and sigs etc. humble old us we just have old photos or bizarre weirdo sheet. callin fidgey is there anybody home, callin 3rd degreee are you there on your own..

[raymond35]

The AFL never cease to amaze with their neverending stupidity. They actually seem to go out of their way to find a new act of idiocy to inflict upon the players and supporters.

[Dale61]

...

[Killbot]

Is nothing to do with avatars and posting photos on messageboards

The issue is official AFL/club logos that "may" give the impression that it is an official AFL/club endorsed site

Just read on bomberblitz a post by the owner there that Essendon had told them to not use the official club logo and put a disclaimer stating that bomberblitz was an "unofficial" site not endorsed by Essendon (and they were told that in 2000)

Nicks front page is full of the CFC official logo BTW

[eddiesmith]

These fan forums can lead to some incredible things, I heard one player was rung up by his captain checking on how he was as he heard a rumour started on one of these boards as news that he was in trouble

[Proud Pies]

[Proud Pies]

[joffa corfe]

Dont flatter yourselves if most clubs had there way all fansites would get the flick, its actually good to see laws come to hand..how about the AFL and its legal begals visit bigvomit.com and shut it down now that would be doing everyone a favour.
In the good old days of nicks board eddie used to get involved i'd have to say these days with all the negativity and crap he wouldn't touch this place with a ten foot pole.
Their seems to be some belief with people these sites are popular with players, let me say most players are unaware of such sites and if they were they would most probably come in for a good laugh.
Most content on fansites is nasty defamatory and most times embarrassing.
What a shame they could have been used to bring club and supporter closer together but until laws change and make people accountable for whatever opinion they want to express nothing will change.
The Hawthorn fansite like the rest of us would be aware the AFL owns such logos and therfore it is ilegal to use them.

[Johnson#26]

Very sad, that site is quality.

There can't be any malicious harm in these sites - all people use them for is to talk footy.

[~Madness~]

Let it be said, one in particular is being looked at on here. For once I KNOW SOMETHING!!! YAY

With that being said - Goes back into hibernation

[Pa Marmo]

The Collingwood emblem at the top of this page links back to this site and not the club. Is that grounds for concern.

[Ah Tibor]

In amongst all their farewell messages is the revelation that one poster posted Darren Goldspink's work address on the site...... sounds like that, coupled with the AFL's strong demands, tipped them over the edge.

Have we ever had such legal threats (presuming that post resulted in one being made) made against us?