Julien Alfred’s fame has inspired big business since her success at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
T-shirts, dresses, caps, and other paraphernalia bearing her image and Olympic emblems have since gone on sale here in Saint Lucia and the diaspora.
However, the question of how much of it is legal has surfaced.
On Monday, St. Lucia Times featured an article highlighting the sale of Julien Alfred-themed paraphernalia ahead of her homecoming on September 24.
The story drew several comments, with some readers expressing that Alfred should get compensation for using her name and image.
Also commenting on the issue on her personal Facebook page was attorney at law Jadia Jn Pierre.
“There is a difference between publishing Julien Alfred’s name and/or image to celebrate her and publishing or using her name and/or image for your personal or business’ financial gain,” Jn Pierre wrote. “The first is acceptable [not in all circumstances but I don’t want to lecture you]. The second requires express permission, otherwise it is unauthorised usage,” she stated.
Jn Pierre acknowledged that Alfred had a foundation but that she was unaware of the members and sponsors.
She also stated that she could not single out any person or entity for wrongful and/or unlawful use of Alfred’s image.
“There may be an agreement with a T-Shirt or cap seller that the proceeds from the sale go to her Foundation. I don’t know,” Jn Pierre noted.
“Equally, I am not privy to Julien Alfred’s agreement or contracts that permit the use of her name or image for advertising a business or its products so I do not know who is authorised to use her name or image,” she explained.
However, she went on to ask those using Alfred’s name and image for business ventures to stop.
“Even though you created the artwork, it’s her image and likeness. So take down your advertisement and reach out to her or her team to do things the right way. If you persist, I hope when her representatives issue the cease and desist and demand the funds generated from selling paraphernalia or using her name and image for advertising, you do not call her ungrateful and say she’s not humble,” Jn Pierre wrote.
“The thing is this is being done by some people who I think should know better. But I am hoping that this serves as a teachable moment for a wider issue of the use of someone’s intellectual property, their image, their music,” Jn Pierre later told St. Lucia Times.
St. Lucia Times has learned that the symbols and names associated with the Olympic Games, including the iconic five interconnected rings, benefit from special protection.
Additionally, before the 2024 Paris Olympics, Getty Images, described as a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace, renewed a long‑term agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The agreement allows Getty to serve as the IOC’s Official Photographic Agency.
As a result, using content is subject to permission from Getty and the IOC.
Saint Lucia is also party to the Berne Convention, adopted in 1886, which deals with the protection of works and the rights of their authors and creators, such as authors, musicians, poets, and painters.
I am glad this is being discussed because a few months ago a local business was promoting some sort of Juju sandwiches. Saint Lucians need to learn about IP especially now as we are front and centre on the global map. Did we not learn from what happened with Majestic Kinks? Julien is a professional athlete, an international one, who has endorsement deals and more will be coming her way, we cannot– should not– be using her name, image and likeness (NIL) for selfish gain. Many of our local athletes have been doing it as well since her Olympic win, to promote their GoFundMe’s and other ventures. Let us not take advantage and make things more difficult for her and ourselves. If you have a solid business idea or provide goods and services at a high standard you won’t have to resort to gimmicks.
Hmmm looks like Missy just auditioned for a job if you want to be juju’s lawyer just say that. Because reading this I would’ve thought Julian had an issue with it clearly she doesn’t and won’t prevent her people from making a buck well celebrating her. We can’t control everything nor should we aspire too. Those selling the murch can and should be encouraged to make a contribution towards her foundation definitely. And she too can start her own murch line if she feels so inclined. Then we’ll have an authentic line to choose from but as for now persons are just interested in decking out to celebrate our star girl’s home coming ✨️✨️✨️✨️
Anonymous September 19, 2024 At 7:37 am
This is why this country is so lawless. This clown finding every justification imaginable to break the law. This is exactly the same thought process every criminal uses. SMFH.
@Agreed … I am in total agreement with your comment. Unfortunately, most of us are NOT privey to the culture of intellectual property.
@Anonymous … most people who are in the public domain, have their OWN TEAM of people who handle their merchandise (hence “merch”), and other SPONSORED retail paraphernalia. She is not sitting at a desk with a phone personally doing her own marketing. A business marketing entity does that in her favour – they alsi handle licencing, etc of her images.
This is a very good time and place to EDUCATE our entrepreneurs of Intelectual Property (IP) standards – how they can/cannot benefit.
She’s auditioning for vf south!!! I hope my people NEVER make that mistake.
@ 70 year old, with this mentality you understand why Vieux Fort and by extension St Lucia is so backward.
The level of ignorance in this place is frightening.
Like Thomas Gray said – ” where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.
What’s most important to remember in this conversation, is the fact that she doesn’t manage her own business or financial affairs. With this knowledge, don’t blame her when litigation becomes part of the game in order to control what could easily become wide spread abuse of her name/rights both locally and internationally. Beware! We may get a pass since we are in celebratory mode. After that, it’s all business.
This is actually an issue which came to my mind – evidently most Lucians don’t seem to understand liability. I think someone had an event in NY and they utilized her photo – some folk will have to learn the hard way for real –
I am reposting to make a quick point —
“If you persist, I hope when her representatives issue the cease and desist and demand the funds generated from selling paraphernalia or using her name and image for advertising, you do not call her ungrateful and say she’s not humble,” Jn Pierre wrote.”
Anyone who would want to go there by name calling will be totally out of order – this young woman has trained relentlessly in order to get this point, and she will continue to do so – no one gets there overnight. It takes:
– dedicated coaching staff (not volunteers) — hello
– very hard work
– discipline
– commitment
– dedication
Therefore, she should not be taken for granted simply because she is a St. Lucian – by letting Tom, Dick and Harry use her image for profit/gain without the proper authorization/contractual agreements/MOUs etc – some Lucians have a lot of nerve and they love to reap where they did not sow..bayteezze too cell ….so because she is a St. Lucian she should allow every individual within your 238 square miles to do whatever they desire based on her professional career —–????????. —- hello
Where is the photo of Julian Alfred on the t shirt
This is nonsense, nuff respect to Julian first of all. However Julian use st.lucia name to be where she is today. Therefor all st.lucian corporation will be using her name for business gain. By doing that it will benefit Julian and it will make her more popular and famous so its a win win situation. Jamaican ppl do this in England on Usain bolt name starting businesses and having Jamaican flag next to their business. so why not
To much free speech,crabe in a barrel mentality
Imagine you don’t drink but bars all around have you photo advertising rum.
Even though Ms Jn. Pierre laid out the facts of the situation, we still have people writing in support of illegal actions. This parasitic mindset is among the things that disturbs me about this place. The girl worked very hard to get to her position. No one should feel a right to rob her of compensation. She should not be taken advantage just because you and her are both St. Lucians. That’s not good enough. Sick people.
I agree with the sentiment and the statement however what kind of lawyer goes publicly to state she doesn’t know this and doesn’t know that about her client???… She should have ASKED Ms Alfred or her team for information on said potential agreements etc or research or whether. She doesn’t sound like a confident attorney representing a client not knowing anything about her legal obligations or issues or contracts …. she had ample time to do so since Ms Alfred won gold. That should have been the beginning of her research so as tk protect her client from ANY issues that may affect her legally… that is if she really is Ms Alfred’s attorney at law
@Jojo you are joking right? You are aware she didn’t have to represent her nation if she didn’t want to? The ignorance is telling! You all act like she was paid to bring us medals in the past. This is a young woman who had personal dreams which became her country’s dreams. We are the ones who should show gratitude. First National is her local sponsor but NOW they have earned lifetime bragging rights for choosing to have done so.
@Poule Foo you are correct on every level as well as LOL – however Jojo needs to do a little more indepth research.
@Lol you are also correct she certainly did not have to represent her nation – obviously she wanted to. There is a young athlete who was born in the US – however she represents her mother’s place of birth instead and it is not the US. Some of these Lucians (parlaay bayteeze too sell for real)…some of the stuff that some folk post is seriously embarrassing.
OMG!
COMPREHENSION IS THE KEY TO LIFE! SOME HAVE POLITICIZED THE LAWYER’S ADVICE/CONCERN!
MS. JN PIERRE DIDN’T STATE THAT SHE WAS HER LAWYER NOR IS LOOKING FOR HER AS A CLIENT! SHE OFFERED FREE ADVICE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT!
BUT ALL Y’ALL WILL SEE IS MAKING A QUICK BUCK! USING JULIEN ALFRED!
MEANWHILE, SOME OF YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU DON’T KNOW HER NAME IS JULIEN!
Some people like freeness too damn much. Pay the young lady her dues, she works hard for it.
Our people have a long way to go. I bet they wouldn’t try that with LaBraun James or some other well established athletes. We need to learn boundaries, we need to learn respect, We need to stop that “ti bootick” mentality. Juju is not up for raffle, she worked hard and spent alot to get to her current status. Neither her name nor her image should be exploited. No where in the world would anyone get away with this. Let’s continue to celebrate Juju, be proud of her success and her contribution to our nation but let us not exploit her. This is really low and of poor taste to put it bluntly.
Family let good sense prevail. Ms. Alfred sacrificed tremendously to be where she is today. Many only see the glamour of the medals without acknowledging the determination and grit that got her there.
Because we love her and want to see her continue to do well, let us respect her ownership of her intellectual property. Doing so will allow her to benefit financially in this dog eat dog world. I’m sure no one wants to deny her that.
@St. Lucian@Heart and Not Anonymous ..your post speaks volumes…truthfully and very well stated. I agree 100%.
Agreed. Be educated people. Bim couldn’t do that with Rihanna. Do as the lawyer suggested. Desist. You are smart.
St.lucian, and others in the diaspora, get to know, and spell her name correct. SHAME!!!