No, Not Those Olympics
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is very protective of the “Olympics” brand in this country. Of course they are, as they spend a lot of money on marketing themselves and the international sports festival that they participate in. I have no issue with the organization protecting themselves from businesses who want to get a free ride on the shirt tails of this well known event.
In other words, it is right to ensure that the only businesses that are “Olympic Sponsors” are actually those who sponsor the Olympics. It would be wrong for anyone or any business to profit through a deliberate attempt to convince consumers that they are actually part of the Olympics events.
On the other hand, the USOC occasionally takes protecting their trademark to an extreme that seems almost laughable. We learned today that The Olympian, the daily newspaper that has served the people of Olympia since 1889, has had a trademark application challenged by the USOC, as an infringement on their own trademark.
The USOC notice says that granting a trademark to the newspaper would falsely suggest a connection to the world sports event, interfering with licensees and sponsors. Of course it would. Just as the state capitol is connected to the Olympics. As well as the peninsula and the mountain range that are also sneakily trying to profit from the games.
Federal law does grant the USOC exclusive use of the Olympics name. However, the law also provides an exception for “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.” That seems to fit The Olympian’s situation exactly.
It would behoove the USOC to stand aside and protect only what needs protecting, before the people of Cascadia (and the Olympic Peninsula) quit taking them seriously.
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