SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Some Wicked Camper vans deemed ‘objectionable’ making them illegal

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In March police submitted a number of campervans to the Classification Office following public concern about the slogans and imagery on the Wicked Campers. This is the first time the Classification Office has classified a vehicle as objectionable. Previously it has included items such as billboards, t-shirts, and even a drink can.

Some camping grounds have been turning the vehicles away and Z Energy is considering whether to refuse to sell them petrol.

Detective Superintendent Tim Anderson says today’s decision gives police more options, including possible penalties for people who drive the vehicles.

Associate Minister of Tourism Paula Bennett says the ruling “is a real victory for everyone that has seen the vans and been offended by the awful slogans and images on them”.

“This will send a clear message to Wicked Campers that their offensive slogans are not welcome here and it’s time they cleaned up their act.”

Ms Bennett says if Wicked Campers continue to use the three slogans banned today they could face a fine of up to $200,000 per offence.

Source: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/some-wicked-camper-vans-deemed-objectionable-making-them-illegal-in-nz

Wicked Campers – All in the Family?

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Liam Webb also refused to reply to requests for a comment on the latest controversy.

“LEANNE” (Stuff News photo above) – John William Webb’s son Liam Webb has spoken on behalf of Wicked Campers before, as “Leanne Webb” Wicked Campers slogan outrage continues.

Wicked Campers founder and owner John William Webb, father of “LEANNE” has been silently defiant in the face of the latest uproar over his vans’ slogans. The son “LEANNE” Webb is now the focus of media attention.

John Webb, has spoken up in defence of his company in the past but this time he has avoided media, deciding to keep quiet..

The Australian Business Register (ABN) records show Brisbane-based Wicked Campers is registered under the name The Trustee of the Juicy Love Trust. The company was first incorporated in October 2006.

As well as The Trustee of the Juicy Love Trust, Jihn William Webb has a string of Wicked-related companies listed on the New Zealand Companies Office site. Like any company listed in New Zealand, they have a local address for their respective registered offices. Webb’s companies’ New Zealand address is listed as a Christchurch business advisory firm [Duns Limited, Level 1, 100 Moorhouse Avenue, Addington, Christchurch, 8011 , New Zealand. [Read more…]

Wicked Campers slogan outrage continues, Mr Wicked nowhere to be seen

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Thousands of Kiwis are calling for a ban on Wicked Campers offensive slogans, but the man behind the vans is nowhere to be found.

The company behind the offensive and borderline misogynistic slogans driving around some of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand is nothing if not defiant.

John William Webb refuses to explain – let alone, apologise for – the vans that have motorists, campsites, guide books, councils and the Government up in arms. He has spoken up in defence of his company in the past but this time he has avoided media, deciding to keep quiet.

Webb's son Liam Webb has spoken on behalf of Wicked Campers before, as "Leanne Webb".

LEANNE (Stuff News photo) – Webb’s son Liam Webb has spoken on behalf of Wicked Campers before, as “LEANNE Webb”.

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As well as The Trustee of the Juicy Love Trust, Webb has a string of Wicked-related companies listed on the New Zealand Companies Office site. [Read more…]

Wicked, but is it trademark infringement?

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Wicked Campers’ offensive campervan paint jobs could trigger a backlash from some of the world’s biggest brands.

The campervan rental company has come under pressure from politicians, police, the Department of Conservation, camp grounds, councils and the public for the use of explicit images and slogans painted on the sides of its vehicles.

One Wicked van features a Pepsi logo with the words “Pussy, taste the difference”.

Pepsi spokesman Craig Irwin said it will follow up with Wicked Campers about the “inappropriate and offensive use of the Pepsi trademark”.

Another van features an image of a witch passing a crack pipe, commonly used for smoking methamphetamine, to Snow White – the main character from Walt Disney Productions’ animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Snow White is street slang for cocaine and “Crack enjoy” is a play on Coca-Cola branding.

Disney spokeswoman Cara Leggett said it protects its intellectual property vigorously and takes reports of suspected infringement seriously.

However, she would not comment on possible or pending investigations or actions.

Coca-Cola did not respond to a request for comment.

Wicked Campers, which was founded in Brisbane by John Webb, is also yet to respond to requests for comment.

Sebastian Aymeric, at intellectual property law firm James and Wells, said Wicked Campers could be in breach of copyright to the logos it had used. It might also be in breach of the Fair Trading Act for misleading consumers into thinking there was a connection between the big brands and Wicked Campers.

Suing for trademark infringement would be more difficult because it was debatable that Wicked Campers was using the logos as a trademark.

“When you put a Pepsi logo on a Wicked Campers van you’re not telling customers that’s a Pepsi campervan, so it wouldn’t necessarily be used as a trademark,” Aymeric said.

Source: The Dominion Post, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, P. B4. (Business Section).