Elisabeth Moriarty

Chair, Litigation Department
Fax 310-201-2359

To Avoid Trademark Headaches, Olympics Must Be Off-Limit

July 24, 2012Article
Law360 (subscription required)

Law360, New York (July 24, 2012, 8:00 PM ET) -- While it may be tempting for businesses to tie their promotions to the upcoming Olympics, the organizers of the games are so fiercely protective of their marks that the only way to avoid trouble is to simply steer clear of any mention of the games, attorneys said. 
 
The U.S. Olympic Committee has the exclusive right to use the word "Olympic" and other terms in the U.S. under a 1978 law, and it has not been shy about enforcing that right. Any company that is not an official sponsor of the games but makes use of the Olympic marks is all but certain to get a cease-and-desist letter.