Brand Republic: South Africa moves to ban guerrilla marketing (subscription required)

The South African government has opted for draconian measures as it legislates against guerrilla marketing, promising potential jail sentences as the country tries to protect sponsors of the Cricket World Cup.

the government has enacted a law prohibiting companies from trying to "achieve publicity of that trademark and thereby derive promotional benefit from the event without the prior authority of the organisers".

Guerrilla, or ambush, marketing has become an increasingly common way for major brands to muscle in on international sporting events without having to invest the large sums that are paid by official sponsors.

I understand their perspective, but you can't start jailing marketers. That will be the end of civilisation as we know it