Here’s a strange story. A group of Chicago police officers have been selling T-shirts featuring “Chalkie” — a chalk outline of a homicide victim carrying a torch — with the phrase “Chicago 2016,” a reference to the city’s bid for the summer Olympics. The proceeds of the T-shirt sales went to a non-profit group that supports the families of police officers and other government workers killed while on duty.Some people didn’t find Chalkie funny — including the U.S. Olympic Committee. Chalkie’s handlers received this note from USOC enforcers:
To Whom It May Concern:
Please contact me concerning the merchandise you are selling at the above URL that features the Olympic trademark: CHICAGO 2016.
CAROL GROSS
United States Olympic Committee
One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909
719.331.8409
carol.gross@usoc.org www.usolympicteam.com
The website operator responded:
We were careful not to use the word Olympic, the Olympic rings, the colors, the logo or anything resembling it. The entire premise is based on a parody that raises money for a worthy cause, The Hundred Club of Chicago. That fine organization provides assistance for the surviving spouses and dependents of firefighters, police officers and paramedics that are killed in the line of duty. You can read more about them at http://100clubchicago.com/
Carol Gross wouldn’t back down:
I appreciate the good work you do and your efforts to honor and support the Hundred Club. Unfortunately, by using the mark CHICAGO 2016, you are creating an unauthorized correlation between your fundraising activities and the Olympic Movement. The USOC has a well established practice of registering trademark sequences that include venue cities and year components. Therefore, the mark CHICAGO 2016 is also covered under our legislation, making your use of that city/year mark unauthorized. The fact that it is being used commercially to raise funds without USOC oversight or permission places your use squarely in violation of our legislation.
I restate my request that you select an alternative mark that does not feature the intellectual property of the USOC.
Interestingly enough, if you go to www.chicago2016.com, you won’t find the USOC’s website (that’s www.chicago2016.org), but a very well-designed website that contains articles critical of the Olympic bid. There is, however, a large disclosure at the top of the page that says, “This is NOT the official Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee site.”
As for the “official” Chicago 2016 website, there is a variety of merchandise for sale with the bid committee’s official logo. No doubt the USOC was simply protecting consumers from fraud when it sent the “Chalkie” people that cease-and-desist letter. Because people might have actually thought that was the official mascot, and all sorts of hilarity would have ensued.
*To avoid any implication that Mises.org or the author has any “correlation” to the Olympic Movement.
{ 5 comments }
Sad to see that they capitulated so quickly, rather than sticking to their guns and exposing the absurdity of the USOC’s claim…state-legitimized or not.
If you asked Chalkie the mascot what he thought, he’d probably say, “Oh, man, I have no idea what’s goin’ on.”
what about “2016 Chicago”?
Chicago 2016! Chicago 2016! Chicago 2016!
FWIW here’s the image.
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