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History

The Olympic Games are considered to be the world's foremost sports competition and more than 200 nations participate. The Games are currently held biennially, with summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating, meaning they occur every four years within their respective seasonal games. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The IOC has since become the governing body of the Olympic Movement, whose structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter.[i]

Intellectual Property

In the recent edition of WIPO Magazine IP article entitled “The Olympic Properties” (By Marianne Chappuis, Trademark Legal Counsel, International Olympic Committee) explored how the International Olympic Committee (IOC) protects the visual symbols of the Olympic Games, the so-called Olympic properties that are so familiar. The Olympic symbol, seen by millions of people throughout the Olympic Games, is one of the world’s most recognized brands. The five interlocking rings represent the coming together of five continents and symbolize the Olympic values: striving for excellence, demonstrating respect and celebrating friendship. The Olympic properties have become iconic – they are more than just “logos”. People around the world associate them with the fundamental Values of sport and of the Olympic Movement. According to a survey in 2001, the Olympic Rings are the most recognised symbol in the world with unaided brand awareness of 93%.[ii]

Iconic Olympic symbol enjoys special protection under the Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol. States that have signed up to the Treaty are obliged to refuse or invalidate the registration as a mark and to prohibit the use for commercial purposes of any sign consisting of or  containing the Olympic symbol, except with the IOC ’s authorization. The Olympic Charter is the codification of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, Rules and Bye-Laws adopted by the IOC. According to Rule 7 of the Charter, the Olympic properties include the Olympic symbol as well as the Olympic flag, motto, anthem, identifiers (such as “Olympic Games” and “Games of the Olympiad”), designations, emblems, the Olympic flame and torches. All rights to any and all Olympic properties belong exclusively to the IOC, including rights to their use such as in relation to profit-making, commercial or advertising purposes.

Why Intellectual Property Protection Is Required For Olympic Games?

Support from the business community is crucial to the holding of the Olympic Games, one of the most effective international marketing platforms in the world, reaching billions of people in more than 200 countries and territories across the globe. The IOC distributes more than 90 percent of its revenues to organizations throughout the Olympic Movement to support the staging of the Olympic Games and to promote the development of sport worldwide. The IOC’s worldwide sponsorship program, The Olympic Partner (TOP) Programme, was established to enable long-term corporate partnerships of benefit to the Olympic Movement. The TOP Programme provides each worldwide partner with exclusive global marketing rights and opportunities within a designated product or service category. Consequently, the IOC must be able to protect the exclusivity granted to its broadcast and marketing partners, and therefore needs to have the necessary means to prevent third parties from making any unauthorized association with the Olympic Games. The role of branding in London 2012 written by Ray Vellest  a London-based brand identity designer gives excellent coverage on branding & raising awareness for Olympic properties.

How Intellectual Property Protection Is Enabled For Olympic Games?

Numerous countries have adopted permanent national legislation protecting the Olympic properties. Although the Olympic Movement’s efforts have contributed to the implementation of legislation, the parliaments that have adopted such measures also understand the importance of sport and the Olympic Movement, as well as the need to protect the properties related to them.

Adopting specific legislation has also proven necessary in countries that host an edition of the Olympic Games. Such legislation concerns not only the protection of the Olympic properties, but also provides the means to fight against ambush marketing and to regulate advertising, in particular in and around Olympic venues. The first specific legislation related to an edition of the Olympic Games appeared in Canada prior to the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. Since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, all host countries have adopted such legislation; this is also true for future editions of the Olympic Games, such as Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016.  In the UK, the London Olympic and Paralympic Games Act 2006 (The London Olympics Act) lays down much of the law to prevent the unauthorized commercial exploitation of these valuable rights.

In relation to the London 2012 Olympic Games, the UK Parliament has adopted the London Olympic and Paralympic Act. This legislation extends legal protection to all properties associated with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Moreover, it forbids any entity from associating itself, or its products or services, with the Olympic Games to gain a commercial advantage, unless expressly authorized to do so by the London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG). The law also provides local authorities and LOCOG with the means to fight ambush marketing efficiently, and to prevent the unauthorized sale of Olympic tickets and other ambush marketing activities at an Olympic venue or in the air space surrounding it.

The Nairobi Treaty

The IOC also benefits from an exceptional international legal instrument that protects the Olympic symbol. Adopted in 1981 and administered by WIPO, the Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol obliges each state that has ratified it to refuse or invalidate the registration as a mark and to prohibit the use for commercial purposes of any sign consisting of or containing the Olympic symbol, except with the IOC’s authorization.

Trademark protection
The IOC is the worldwide owner of numerous trademarks protecting its Olympic properties. While this might seem logical, the IOC had to wait some 100 years before it could register trademarks in its own name. Prior to 1993, numerous national trademark laws (including in Switzerland, where the IOC is based) reserved the right to register trademarks only for commercial companies. As a non-profit association, the IOC had to wait for the harmonization of European law and the modification of Swiss law such that any entity could register a trademark in its name.

The IOC registers trademarks, in particular through the WIPO Madrid system, relating to its permanent properties (which are common to each edition of the Olympic Games), such as the Olympic symbol and the words “Olympic”, “Olympiad” and “Olympic Games”. It also seeks protection for identifiers related to a specific edition of the Olympic Games, such as the official emblem of that edition of the Olympic Games and the City+Year word mark - for example, “London 2012” and “Sochi 2014”. Logos from the summer and winter Olympic Games from 1924 to 2012 can be found here. Below is the list of trademarks (active registrations, applications/requests being processed, registrations no longer in force):
Implementing the IOC’s rights

In the routine management of its intellectual property (IP) rights, the IOC encounters certain challenges, some of which are described below.

1.     Internet and social media platforms

Internet and social media platforms are fantastic opportunities to engage new audiences, especially the young. The IOC is embracing this opportunity and has a presence on several major social media platforms. However, from an IP point of view, it is important for the IOC, like other trademark owners, to control the use of its properties on such platforms, in particular in relation to the numerous possibilities for third parties to make unauthorized use of Olympic properties. The IOC works closely with social media platforms to prevent unauthorized use of its properties. It also closely follows the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) project, opening the door to new extensions of top level domain names, in order to protect its Olympic properties on the Internet.

2.     Ambush marketing

Ambush marketing consists of attempts to create a false, unauthorized or misleading commercial association with the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games. It includes a third party’s use of creative means to generate a false association with the Olympic Movement or Olympic Games; infringement of the various laws that protect the use of Olympic properties; and interference with the legitimate marketing activities of Olympic partners. Some companies that are not official partners try to associate themselves with the unique and worldwide character of the Olympic Games free of charge. This is unfair vis-à-vis companies that financially support the Olympic Games as well as to the participating athletes. The creativity of these ambushers makes it necessary to adopt specific national legislation to prevent ambush marketing. However, as these laws are in force only in the host territory, the IOC must invoke, in other territories, ordinary legal means to fight ambush marketing, such as trademark registration or unfair competition. However, these sometimes do not go as far as the IOC would like.

3.     Protection of the City+Year word mark

In 1993, before Sydney was elected to host the 2000 Olympic Games, a third party filed for registration of all the names of the candidate cities for the 2000 Olympic Games, in numerous countries, and then threatened the IOC partners with legal action if they used these references. To prevent such abuses in the future, the IOC subsequently took steps to protect the City+Year identifiers, well before a city is selected to host an edition of the Olympic Games.

Some court decisions, however, have called into question the distinctive character of a trademark composed of a city and a year. The distinctive character of a mark acquired after its lengthy use is a known remedy for an initial potential lack of distinctiveness. However, numerous trademark offices around the world accept that, in the specific case of the Olympic Games, and given the exceptional worldwide interest in, and media coverage of, a city’s election by the IOC, distinctiveness is acquired the moment the result is announced. It is widely recognized that the “City+Year” identification of the Olympic Games immediately gains considerable notoriety and continues to increase in attractiveness and distinctiveness, peaking during the actual holding of the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Games are one of the most well-known sporting events in the world. Protecting the Olympic properties is, therefore, very important. The IOC benefits from a privileged situation thanks to the existence of the Nairobi Treaty, as well as national legislation to protect the Olympic properties and combat ambush marketing in certain territories. However, ordinary legal protection, such as trademark protection, remains essential. Like many other trademark owners, including sports governing bodies, the IOC faces a number of new challenges in managing its IP, in particular in relation to social media platforms.

While the IOC considers the advent of social media an opportunity for sports bodies to engage new generations of fans and participants, it must face the new challenges they pose in terms of managing the Olympic properties. Close collaboration with the providers of these services, will undoubtedly go a long way in mitigating this risk. Judicious management of the Olympic properties will help ensure that people of all ages and from all continents can continue to take part in the spectacle and celebrate the values that underpin the Olympic Games for generations to come. The list of registered trademark for “London 2012” can be seen here.

Designing  excellence

The Torch, designed by studio Barber Osgerby, was chosen from 89 entries to claim the winning title. Made of aluminium, it will be carried over 8,000 miles over the course of its 70-day Torch Relay, and is perforated with 8,000 circular holes representing the 8,000 Torchbearers. Aside from being decorative, the holes also help reduce the weight of the torch and prevent heat conduction.

The London 2012 Velodrome on the Olympic Park also won the Architecture Award. The Velodrome is one of the most sustainable and iconic venues of the Games. Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: ‘The Torch is one of the most recognisable symbols of the Olympic Games and we are thrilled that our design has won this prestigious title. I am delighted we have such a brilliantly designed, engineered and crafted Torch that will help to celebrate the amazing personal achievements of each of our 8,000 Torchbearers and give them their moment to shine.'It is also fantastic news that the stunning architecture of the London 2012 Velodrome has won an award and welcome recognition of the landmark new buildings the Games are bringing to London.’ Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum, said of the winning entry: ‘Nothing is harder to get right than designing for the Olympics. The lightness and simplicity of Barber Osgerby’s London 2012 Olympic Torch does just that. The Torch not only captures the spirit of London as Olympic Host City but also demonstrates how design can celebrate traditional ideas in a modern way.’


Tune into http://www.london2012.com/ for result updates.

[ii] AM Wall The Game behind the Games, 91 Trade Mark Rep.1243 (2001).


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