Courtesy:  AI Overview

How can this injustice be remedied ?

Chat GPT answer:

The claim that the “Player Referral” concept (the foundation of the Decision Review System or DRS) belongs to Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna

is a well-documented and long-standing grievance in the sporting world. While the ICC and other sports bodies have adopted similar systems, the lack of official recognition or compensation remains a central point of contention for Weeraratna and his supporters.

Remedying this situation involves navigating complex international intellectual property (IP) laws and diplomatic channels. Potential avenues for redress include: 

1. Formal Legal Action for IP Infringement 

• Copyright and Moral Rights: Weeraratna has argued that he holds the “moral copyright” to the concept, as he was the first to publish the specific four-point mechanism for player referrals in The Australian on March 25, 1997. Under the Sri Lankan Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003, creators have moral rights to be recognized as authors.
• Civil Litigation: Legal experts in Sri Lanka have previously suggested that he has grounds to sue for both economic and moral copyright violations. Such a case would likely need to be brought in jurisdictions where the ICC or other sports bodies operate.
• Unfair Competition: Claims could be made under Unfair Competition Law, arguing that the unauthorized use of his “brainchild” is contrary to honest commercial practices. 

2. Institutional and Diplomatic Pressure

• Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Advocacy: SLC has previously submitted folders of Weeraratna’s work to the ICC. A more robust, official campaign by SLC at the ICC’s Annual General Meetings (AGM) could demand a formal Commission of Inquiry to establish the system’s authorship.
• Government Intervention: The Sri Lankan government could take up the matter diplomatically, similar to how other nations protect their cultural and intellectual heritage. This could involve raising the issue at international forums like the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

3. Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Mediation or Arbitration: Rather than a costly court battle, Weeraratna has requested an independent third-party arbitrator to hear his claim. Organizations like the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center specialize in such international IP disputes.
• Reparative Justice: Supporters have called for “Reparative Justice,” which focuses on official recognition and symbolic naming (e.g., renaming it the “Weeraratna DRS”) rather than just financial compensation. 

4. Public and Academic Recognition

• Branding and Public Awareness: Increasing global awareness through media campaigns and academic citations can help solidify his status as the “Father of DRS”.
• International Sports Bodies: Outreach to FIFA (Soccer), World Rugby, and the ITF (Tennis) to acknowledge the conceptual origin of their referral systems could further validate the claim beyond cricket. 

Courtesy:  AI Overview