Olympics Tries To Block Olympian Newspaper (From Olympia, Washington) From Trademarking Its Name
from the and-the-gold-medal-in-trademark-pushyness-goes-to... dept
It's no secret that the Olympics can be ridiculously over aggressive with trademark claims, often getting governments to pass special intellectual property rules to allow the Olympics special control over certain names or phrases well outside the contours of existing intellectual property law. The various Olympic committees insist they "need" this to protect their revenue stream, but we didn't realize that gov'ts had any responsibility in helping the Olympics make lots of money. The latest move is that the US Olympic Committee is protesting a trademark application for the name of The Olympian, a newspaper in Olympia, Washington (thanks to Erik for sending that in). It would appear that the Olympian has been operating since 1889. That would be seven years prior to the first modern "Olympics" in 1896.While I am left wondering why the Olympian suddenly decided to try to register the trademark on its name now (leading to the attempt to block the trademark), it does seem pretty ridiculous that the Olympics could suddenly claim that there might be confusion between the two after over a century of the two "brands" living together peacefully.
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Filed Under: olympia, olympian, olympics, trademark, washington
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You ask a question, then answer it
Obviously the first part was predicated on the IOC's tendency to do the second. Better to get their claim established before the IOC starts printing a paper or somesuch.
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Re: You ask a question, then answer it
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This week's printed SI basically blames the non-cooperative nature at the USOC for Chicago getting virtually ignored at the IOC vote. Where did I get my hands on a printed SI? I'll never tell.
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Re:
The U.S. has already hosted many times and been turned down many times. This would be the first event ever for South America. Additionally, Chicago is certainly no paradise and Obama's speech, like every speech of his, was all style and no substance. What made everybody think that Chicago was going to win, or even should have won?
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Re: Re:
Still, not a good week for the USOC.
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Stupid Olympics
On topic: Does the olympics present challenges with national laws because of their inherent multi-national-ness? Or are these laws and trademark issues actually handled by the local IOCs, like the USOC for instance? If it's the USOC, then why should they play by any rules other than their country's?
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HBR
"the Olympics does its sponsors a disservice if it encourages them to think that legal enforcement is all that's required for a rewarding sponsorship experience."
Taken from:
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/cs/2009/10/olympic_sponsorships.html
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Olympics
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Re: Olympics
> hosting the Olympics because we have an
> Olympic Mountain Range that would have to
> be renamed!
Wouldn't be a problem. Read the linked article and you'll find that Congress specifically exempted uses of "Olympic" in Washington State from USOC jurisdiction for just that reason. Given that the law itself allows businesses in that area to use that name, I have no idea why the USOC thinks it will be successful in challenging the newspaper's trademark application.
But McClatchy attorneys point out that
the amendment also includes a provision
that recognizes Washington state's claim
to the Olympic name. This exception covers
naturally occurring mountains or the
geographic region named prior to Feb. 6,
1998, and where "such businesses, goods,
or services are operated, sold, and marketed
in the State of Washington west of the
Cascade Mountain range and operations,
sales, and marketing outside of this area
are not substantial."
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Re: Olympics
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In my town a long time running pizza store, exists well before the Olympic coming to town, was taken to court because it's called "Olympia". I think the case was eventually dropped though.
You can ignore the fact that most city that hosted Olympics suffered after it's over. The whole Olympic thing is so commercialized that it's losing the spirit of the original games. I personally haven't cared or watched Olympics in like, 20 years.
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Olympics
1 License the name.
2 Change their name.
3 Accept that Olympics is a historical name and therefore cannot belong to anyone.
4 Continue their self destructive path.
My bet is that they'll opt for number 4.
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Vancouver Restaurant To Change Its Name
How about the Olympia restaurant in Vancouver being forced to change it's name/sign during the Olympics? That place has been operating in the area for 15 years.
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There are others the IOC/USOC can go after
Then there is Olympia Snow Senator from Maine.
How about the USS Olympia (SSN 717)Los Angeles class attack sub?
And on and on....
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Re: There are others the IOC/USOC can go after
Then there is Olympia Snow Senator from Maine.
How about the USS Olympia (SSN 717)Los Angeles class attack sub?"
Well, I think those three should just enter into a Civ III style mutual protection pact. Then Senator Olympia Snow can drink a ton of Olympia Beer and issue an attack order from a USS Olympia L.A. Class attack sub upon IOC HQ.
Ah, Civ III....
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Stupid Olympics
The events themselves are insanely commercialize.
Too much so.
I just don't want them anymore.
The only things I have watched, are some of our (our referring to USA, where I reside) insanely amazing athletes.
These being Michael Phelps the swimmer and our female beach volleyball team Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.
Truly amazing at what they do.
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There's also an Olympian ...
Seems pretty ridiculous and reminds of Nissan vs Nissan.
Chris.
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