WIPA: WICB do not own players

THE West Indies Players’ Association has issued a statement putting in perspective the real issue between them and the West Indies Cricket Board. According to the statement, “WIPA violently disagrees” with the board, who believe they own players who becomes a member of the West Indies team and his intellectual property rights, to which the Players’ Association disagrees. The news release said the board feels they are entitled to sell that players’ rights and convert him into an endorser or salesman of anybody’s product and services without remuneration.

It pointed out that this contractural provision is included in a two-month contract for the proposed Australian tour. WIPA indicated that this provision is new and had not previously arisen in the course of ongoing negotiations between them and the board, because it is in conflict with all the contracts agreed upon between the two parties over the past 12 months. The statement quoted the clause in question which reads: “The player acknowledges that the WICB has the sole and exclusive right to permit any person to represent that they, or their goods or services, have the sopnsorship or approval of, or are in any way endorsed by or associated with the WICB or any WICB team.” It pointed out that the definition of West Indies team for these purposes is any group of four players.

WIPA is of the view the WICB sold rights which they do not have and which they are not attempting to acquire by requiring the players, as a condition of being included in a three-week training camp, for which they would not be paid, to acknowledge that the board has these rights. Meanwhile, WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine dispatched a letter to Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, welcoming his offer to attempt to resolve the dispute. Ramnarine in his letter stated: “WIPA makes itself available to facilitate your initiative and look forward to the meeting with you and Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur as well as the WICB representatives at your office tomorrow (today).”