Olympics Crack Down On Anyone Mentioning Them Without Paying... As White House Tells Everyone To Set Up Olympics Parties

from the ip-violations-galore! dept

Thu, Jul 19th 2012 11:33am — Mike Masnick

We've covered for years how overly aggressive the Olympics are in protecting their "IP" -- to the point that they often get special laws passed that grant them extra IP rights, which they use to block pretty much anyone who hasn't paid from using the word "Olympics" at all, or even having a non-sponsoring brand shown anywhere (yes, even if that means taping over the brand on toilet fixtures in bathrooms around the Olympic grounds). Hell, we just reported on the Olympics going after a 30-year-old restaurant named Olympic Gyros.

So it struck me as somewhat surprising to get an email from the White House, saying that I should create my own (or join in an existing) "Olympic Fun Day Meetup."

Of course, as a participating country, I'm sure that the Olympics grants the US government wider leverage in using its name, but if anyone else in the country suggested something as crazy as creating a special "meet up" around the Olympics, how quickly do you think the Olympics would send in the lawyers to demand a takedown?

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Filed Under: ip, meetups, olympics, protection, white house

44 Comments

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Ninja (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:38am

Actually this is just genius. Set up a Govt sponsored incentive for ppl to infringe. Then sue everybody. Guaranteed money!
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- jupiterkansas (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:01pm
  
  Re:
  You mean like the public library?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:39am

The Olympics and Apple are the same!
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- Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:30pm
  
  Re:
  The ******** and ***** are the same
  
  Not to me. The first silence is definitely longer.
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BentFranklin (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:48am

As angry as I am about Obama/Democratic Party complicity in IP bullshit, the stain is worse on Romney for having actually run an Olympics. You couldn't possibly come so close to that kind of corruption without getting it on yourself as well.
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- Mason Wheeler (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:51am
  
  Re:
  Yeah, except you didn't hear about them pulling shenanigans like this back then. It's gotten a lot worse in recent years. IMO they abandoned all legitimacy when they decided to hold the Games--which are supposed to celebrate the nobility of mankind and of the human spirit--in China.
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  - Bas Grasmayer (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:25pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Well... there were, of course, the 1936 Olympics in Berlin when the Nazis were in power... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_Summer_Olympics#Influence_of_Nazi_ideologies
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    - Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:47pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Man, the nazis were so stupid it would have been funny if not for the part where their ideas got a bunch of innocent people killed.
      
      I mean, Jews are bad at athletics? Based on what exactly?
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      - Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 2:34pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Their big noses and all the gold sewn into their clothes
        
        And... America has inherited "their ideas"
        
        Project Paperclip... if we did not take over where the Nazi's left off, who would?
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    - E. Zachary Knight (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 1:31pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Sad but true. In fact, one of the most beloved Olympic traditions spawned from the 1936 Nazi run Olympics, the running of the torch.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 2:21pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        So the guys running the Olympics now are EXACTLY LIKE HITLER?
        
        Can't wair for Mein kampf 2: passing of the torch
        
        /godwin'd
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      - JustMe (profile), 20 Jul 2012 @ 5:43am
        
        Olympic torch started in 1928
        "The fire was reintroduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, and it has been part of the modern Olympic Games ever since." Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Flame
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- Cdaragorn (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:06pm
  
  Re:
  "You couldn't possibly come so close to that kind of corruption without getting it on yourself as well."
  
  All I can say is...wow...talk about leaving all sense of logic and basic reasoning in the dust so you can make a statement completely unsupportable in any sense of the word...
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:48am

best bet would be to totally ignore the Olympics completely, until the Commission come to their senses. the event is supposed to inspire competitiveness and friendship, not give a few idiots the right to change things as they see fit. they act like the USTR. not elected by the people but seem to think they have the powers of the Almighty!
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:49am

Look closer: "c" in "Olympic" on the picture is not a Latin "c," (U+0063) it is a Cyrillic "с," (U+0441) which results in a separate, non-infringing word.
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Nick Dynice (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:53am

Has anyone seen the Citibank commercial where they use their points to rent a large outdoor TV to watch the Olympics? Somehow I think the Olympic trademark police would find this truly offensive if anyone did it in real life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpQ5Ew3YnKs
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- PaulT (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 1:11pm
  
  Re:
  IIRC, Citibank are an official sponsor, so they get special treatment...
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:55am

THEY ARENT bother us hackers
https://www.uha1.com

gee wonder why they dont want to fuck around ?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 11:56am

I think they might just be trying to levarage the Streisand effect to their benefit.
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fogbugzd (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:02pm

I am tempted to have an Unolympic Meetup. A bunch of us would get together and not watch the Olympics together.
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- :Lobo Santo (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:32pm
  
  Re: ^.^
  I'd go to that!
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- Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 3:30pm
  
  Re:
  We can go to Olympic Gyro!
  We can arrange sliced olives and calimari rings as 'you know what' and wait for the lawyers to show up.
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sehlat (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:37pm

Actually, this whole situation is very useful.
It's a perfect case study of IP maximalism running amok.
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- TDR, 19 Jul 2012 @ 5:15pm
  
  Re: Actually, this whole situation is very useful.
  So is the U.S. Government, now that you mention it.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:41pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in the US isn't it the USOC that owns the rights to the word 'Olympic?' I remember the SF Arts and Athletics case from California.

If so, the US Gov't can encourage this without worrying, but a private party cannot.
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gorehound (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 12:50pm

I would rather not bother to watch the Olympics.Not being a very friendly Event at all.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 1:31pm

so, just send the bill and/or the take down/fine etc to The White House and all should be good, right?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 1:38pm

It's all about jewish business.
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Jes Lookin, 19 Jul 2012 @ 2:14pm

Or Could It Be...
The return of the Soup Nazi ! You pay for me to look away - or - no Olympics for you ! Unfortunately, this time there is nothing good about his product, just US corporate swill.
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Not Mein Kampf, 19 Jul 2012 @ 2:31pm

Another Olympic sided tragedy
Another Olympic sided tragedy, the president will be arrested and sent to Mount ? for prosecution.
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krudler (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 3:03pm

Fight back...
Tweet how you're using non sponsors brands during the Olympics, and piss off those sponsors and LOCOG:

"I'm eating #Burgerking at #London2012, and wearing my #Nike. #Mcdonald's fries are shit"
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 3:07pm

Everyone I talk to, seems to be boycotting The Olympics. ( I hope I don't get sued for typing the word). Do to their over excessive copyright enforcement. Some are even boycotting buisenesses that support them. So no go on any
fun this Time around. Sorry White House.
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Olympic Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 3:21pm

Hey, Olympics...
Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics Olympics

Now sue me!
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Dave (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 4:04pm

OLYMPICs
I think it works like this:
1. Olympic show is expensive.
2. City hosting show must fund it, and provide venue.
3. City appeals to corporations for money, with IOC blessing
4. Corporations, just because they can, impose severe restrictions on city and IOC as condition of granting money.
5. City and IOC, in order to protect their funds, go completely off the end of the pier. Remember, the corporations can pull their money whenever they like for whatever reason, or none.

IMHO, said corporations should be held legally responsible for ALL funding after they agreed. This especially means funding the athletes, instead of making them beg for money.

As far as I'm concerned, this whole thing is a total cluster*^$% and has been getting worse each time it's put on. I have NO INTENTION of wasting my time or resources on it. If, in the bloody unlikely event, I need information, there's always the internet.
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ebilrawkscientist (profile), 19 Jul 2012 @ 4:36pm

olympiclusterfsck
o l y m p i c l u s t e r f s c k
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temoi, 19 Jul 2012 @ 4:41pm

Ok then olmypbitches find me after I type this, no nastia liukin, no wstching your yaoi parade.
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hank, 19 Jul 2012 @ 4:51pm

Official Intellectual Property blog of the 2012 London Olympic Games
somehow i managed to comment on the wrong post... whoops.

Here's an idea, right before the opening ceremonies, redo the header of techdirt to announce that Techdirt is the "The Official Intellectual Property blog of the 2012 London Olympic Games" and state factually it's an obvious ironic parody. Let's see how many hurried morons come out to play.
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Rex, 19 Jul 2012 @ 5:40pm

Olympics
Hit 'em where it hurts: the pocketbook.

I pledge that for 10 years I will boycott the sponsors of the US Olympic Committee as shown on this page:

http://www.teamusa.org/Sponsors.aspx

I will not buy or use their products or those of their subsidiaries and affiliates, e.g. NBC, a property of GE.

I will renew my boycott annually until the USOC renounces and ceases their heavy handed tactics and their sponsors pays treble reparations, including legal fees, to those it harmed by their legal actions. Additionally, the USOC will have to announce their compliance by publishing full page advertizements in the major newspapers in every US state for 10 consecutive days.

Don't laugh. I have a boycott list. Some residents of that boycott list are there for "Life". AT&T has been there since 2001 (remember North Point Communications? I do) and will remain there until it reimburses me for my losses, treble. Sears Roebuck (rule of 78 interest charges in 1977). I haven't bought anything there since. -- I know hundreds of people and businesses with boycott lists. Once your on the list, you've lost a customer for a long time (Target ... oh, nevermind). I respect my boycott lists and do not patronize those companies on them.

So, USOC, FOAD. ... whew! I feel better now.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2012 @ 7:47pm

I think I should set up a 'Fuck the Olympic Committee' block party. Would be a great way to show them just what we truly feel about the commercialization of the games.
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FM Hilton, 19 Jul 2012 @ 8:26pm

Not the only instance
Yeah, the Olympic Committee is way over-protective of their brand, all right-in Maine, there was a group of people who wanted to hold an "RedNeck Olympics", and the IOC came down on them hard, issuing a 'cease and desist' letter to them.
http://bangordailynews.com/2011/08/12/news/lewiston-auburn/redneck-olympics-organizer-ready-t o-face-u-s-olympic-committee/

The "Rednecks" said they were disappointed in that idea, and thought it was highly unfair.

Just last week, they were still using the brand. Oh, well.
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TeaMan, 20 Jul 2012 @ 12:40am

Olympians
I'm not really sure how these people can have any rights to a 'Olympic' when it originates from the Greek Olympics in Olympia back to 776 B.C. Wouldn't the ancient Greeks be the ones with the rights to that term, and I'm sure that would have expired by now, unless they paid politicians of course. I wonder how much money they owe the Greeks for unlawful use, of not only the term, but the games themselves?
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- Dave (profile), 20 Jul 2012 @ 12:58am
  
  Re: Olympians
  There ya go. THAT'S a great copyright claim. Maybe it'll get Greece out of the doghouse. We, the rest of the world, owe Greece US$150,000 PER athlete, per game for every Olympic Game performance ever held. Should be about 100 times the total GNP of Earth.
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streetlight (profile), 20 Jul 2012 @ 7:07am

Reminds me of the NFL's limits on the use of the term
Advertisers and others allegedly can't use the trademarked/copyrighted term for the Big Game played annually in the US in late January or early February, so the invention of the term "The Big Game." Perhaps for subject term we should use something like, "The Quadrennial Summer Competitions,", i. e., QSC, and "The Quadrennial Winter Competitions,", i. e., QWC.

Ridiculous!
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Mr Fbuh, 22 Jul 2012 @ 12:48pm

Olympic Logo
Fun fact: The five interconnecting rings were originally a star shape, which was an homage to Aphrodite. The path of Venus traces a perfect star shape in the sky throughout the year. They changed it because people are morons.
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