Buckle-up: FPA hits turbulence on FAAA acronym
The Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA) has hit a roadblock in its attempt to trademark the “FAAA” acronym.
The FAAA has received a legal letter from a law firm representing the Flight Attendants Association of Australia objecting to the Financial Planning Association of Australia’s attempt to trademark “FAAA”.
The Financial Advice Association of Australia is the body formed out of the merger of the FPA and the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA).
The letter, from South Australian firm, Turon Legal, states: “My client objects to and will oppose your application for registration of ‘FAAA’ as a trademark”.
The letter then states the reasons for the opposition as including the fact the acronym has been in use by the Flight Attendants Association since 1 June, 1992, the acronym is also registered as a Business Name with an ATO issued ABN and that “since the inception of digital media, my client has used the acronym”.
It also states that the name and acronyms FAAA and faaa have been published in numerous media articles, including, and not limited to radio and television broadcasts and that “the public seeing my client’s long-user acronym, ‘FAAA” being related to a financial services body would send a confusing message to the public and our members”.
“Another organisation using the same acronym would confuse the public, or its members, when searching for my client on the web. My Client does not wish for the public who are seeking to contact your Association, to call our offices seeking financial advice, or seeking assistance with grievances in that domain”.
FAAA chief executive, Sarah Abood acknowledged receipt of the letter and said that her organisation was working with the Flighted Attendants Association to help resolve their concerns.
Maybe just go with FFS
There is an old, somewhat derogatory, saying in the hospitality venues where the now famous test is applied – “Couldn’t organize a good time with lots of $$$$$ …..”
And I bet some consultant collected lots of motza for the media messaging and logo creation on this one.
And if an adviser put info into an SOA without DOUBLE checking, our head would be on a platter
How can you go through this whole process and not pick this up
How embarrassing! I just don’t understand how the brightest minds can come up with the acronym for the newly formed advisor body without proper research to determine if this acronym currently available.
Don’t panic… we’re in safe hands!
Oh how embarrassing….That’s what happens when you don’t consult. When I first heard the rebrand I googled FAAA, and thought not going to happen. Good luck with your search engine rankings too. Maybe now they’ll have to stop acting for the entire industry, including those Super funds they’re so keen to see QAR get legs for and start actually acting for Advisers. Then they could be the “Financial Planners Association of Aust” (FPAA), which is different to the old “Financial Planning Association”
FAARK
12 Directors.. Need I say more.
A simple google search would have found that out?
So in real terms, this was a stuff up long before now, but still progressed through with it.