UK To Regulate Against Misuse Of Olympic Symbols

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

14 July 2005

As required by the International Olympic Committee, the UK will introduce regulations controlling marketing which makes use of the Olympic symbols. So-called 'ambush' marketing has been a problem for previous Olympic host countries.

The UK's ministry for culture, media and sport plans to pass the law by July 21 before the parliament goes into summer recess. It will outlaw unofficial Olympic sponsorships and advertisements in the UK as well as any unofficial use of the Olympic word mark and the Olympic rings logo and eliminate street vending. The law will bring the UK's Olympics regulations into line with the requirements of the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC compelled China to pass an equivalent law in 2002 covering its holding of the Games in 2008. Some relevant clauses are as follows:

• These Regulations are formulated for the purposes of strengthening the protection of Olympic symbols, safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of the right holders of Olympic symbols and maintaining the dignity of Olympic movement.
  
• For the purposes of these Regulations, ”Olympic symbols” refer to: (1) The five Olympic rings, Olympic flag, Olympic motto, Olympic emblem and Olympic anthem of the International Olympic Committee (IOC); (2) Expressions such as Olympic, Olympiad, Olympic Games and their abbreviations; (3) The name, emblem and symbols of the Chinese Olympic Committee; (4) The name, emblem and symbols of Beijing2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee; (5) Symbols such as the name and emblem of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the mascots, anthem and slogan of the 29th Olympic Games, 'Beijing2008', the 29th Olympic Games and its abbreviations; (6) Other symbols related to the 29th Olympic Games laid down in the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in the Year 2008.
  
• The right holders of the Olympic symbols enjoy the exclusive rights of Olympic symbols in accordance with these Regulations. No one may use Olympic symbols for commercial purposes (including potential commercial purposes, and the same below) without the authorization of the right holders.
  
• For the purpose of these Regulations, "use for commercial purposes" means the use of Olympic symbols for profit-making purposes in the following ways: (1) The use of Olympic symbols in goods, packages or containers of goods or trade documents of good; (2) The use of Olympic symbols in services; (3) The use of Olympic symbols in advertising, commercial exhibition, profit-making performance and other commercial activities; (4) Selling, importing or exporting goods bearing Olympic symbols; (5) Manufacturing or selling Olympic symbols; (6) Other acts that might mislead people to think there are sponsorship or other supporting relations between the doers and the right holders of Olympic symbols.

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