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The U.S. Olympic Committee has asked a Maine man to not use the term "Redneck Olympics" ever again.
Harold Brooks was the organizer for the weekend event in Hebron.
Brooks says he received a telephone call Monday from an official at the USOC warning him to change the name of his event or face a lawsuit.
Read more: www.wmtw.com...
upbeatjunk [Profile]
Member
Aug. 10, 2011 9:22am EST
Inappropriate
Unfortunately the supreme court has already upheld an injunction to prevent another group from using the word "olympic". The injunction WAS filed by the USOC and was filed to prevent a group from naming their games the "Gay Olympic Games". I don't know if they would change their mind in this case. See here: www.acluutah.org...
Read more: www.wmtw.com...
The Utah Games Network uses the web address www.utahgames.org and includes on their website the phrase “more than gold,” to promote issues associated with the games in the Christian community. The website lists seminars and includes an electronic contribution listing. Users may also buy promotional materials such as videos, T-shirts, and pins. The T-shirts and pins both display the phrase “more than gold.” Because Utah Games Network sells items, the website can arguably fall under the Amateur Sports Act because they are inducing the sale of goods and services. Further, although they do not use the word “Olympic” expressly, the phrase “more than gold” and their website address www.utahgames.org could be considered a “simulation” of the Olympic trademark that tends to cause confusion or falsely suggests a connection with official Olympic activities. A letter from the Patent and Trademark Office of the Department of Commerce attached to the final committee report on the Amateur Sports Act stated that not only the words listed in the act are prohibited. Words that are a simulation or confusingly similar derivation from those listed are prohibited under the Act. However, at least two cases, United States Olympic Committee v. Olymp-Heerrenwaschefabriken, 22 USPQ 497 (Tr. Trial & App. Bd. 1984) and In Re Midwest Tennis and Track Co., 29 USPQ2d 1386 (Tr. Trial & App. Bd. 1993) found that words not expressly contained in the Act are not prohibited.
December 1971 The U.S. Olympic Committee gives Special Olympics official approval as one of only two organizations authorized to use the name “Olympics” in the United States.
Reading through past rulings, I doubt this gentleman has much of a chance of winning in a lawsuit, but it does look like there are some technicalities that may give him a chance.