AFL and Warner Bros to find ‘happy solution’ over Tasmania Devils name

The AFL looks like it will be free to use the Devils nickname for the new Tasmanian club after Warner Bros reached out to the league to find a “happy solution” over the commercial copyright.

After years of advocating, Tasmania was last week granted a licence by the AFL, with a 19th men’s team on track to join the national competition in 2028.

Attention immediately turned to what the newest club would be called, with the Tasmanian Devils emerging as the logical and popular option.

But there was speculation the Devils name would be off-limits because Warner Bros own the commercial copyright for their Looney Tunes character, Taz.

The Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, confirmed discussions with Warner Bros were ongoing.

“But let’s face it, it’s our animal, and we’ll use it if we want,” Rockliff posted on Facebook on Tuesday.

“It’s Tasmanians’ team, so we’ll get together as a state soon and choose a name.”

Outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan last week said he was confident the issue could be worked through if the club wished to be called the Devils, a naming option he backed.

“Devils seems to make sense to me,” McLachlan said last week.

The AFL has already registered trademarks for the name “Tassie Devils” and “Tasmania Devils” with a final decision expected in mid-July.

Now Warner Bros have put some weight behind McLachlan’s optimism, saying they have contacted the league and “look forward to a happy solution shortly”.

“The Tasmanian Devil (‘Taz’) is an iconic Looney Tunes character and Warner Bros appreciates the AFL’s acknowledgment and respect of our registered rights,” a Warner Bros Discovery spokesperson said on Tuesday.

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