Event organisers and sponsors benefit from widespread anti-ambush legislation

The host countries for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games have already implemented the host countries for national anti-ambush laws.

More recently, The Major Events Management Act 2007 has come into force in New Zealand. The Act protects rights holders against ticket touting, pitch invasions and unauthorised use of official event emblems. Unlike the various national Olympic laws enacted for forthcoming Olympic Games, the Act is an umbrella legislation which can be activated for any sporting event which the New Zealand economic development minister deems worthy of its protection, taking into account public policy considerations such as whether the event in question will give substantial benefits to the country, lead to an increase in tourism and raise New Zealand's profile internationally. Fines of up to NZ$150,000 are in place to dissuade people or businesses from illegal trading and advertising.

The Act will cover the 2007 World Netball Championship, the 2010 Rowing World Cup and most significantly the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup. New Zealand was set to co-host the 2003 IRB Rugby World Cup with Australia but was forced to step down after failing to guarantee that tournament stadia could be delivered clean from non-IRB official sponsorship.

Meanwhile, the Russian Parliament has recently passed a law which will protect the organisers of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi from the threat of ambush marketing following a visit from Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC, during 2007 to assess Russia's capabilities as host.

Closer to home, a bill has been put before the Scottish Parliament relating to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The bill follows close on the heels of Glasgow successfully outbidding the Nigerian capital city of Abuja to win the right to host the event.

Anti-ambushing laws are being given regional coverage too. The Major Events (Aerial Advertising) Act 2007, which takes effect in the Australian state of Victoria covers sporting events at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Telstra Dome including the Boxing Day cricket test, the Australian Open Tennis Championships and the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, and has now been extended to cover Australian Rules Football finals. The Act specifically focuses on preventing rival sponsors from flying airships over the stadia.