Maine's Redneck Olympics Threatened with Lawsuit[U S Olympic Committee]

MPBN ^ | 08/10/2011 | Jay Field

[fight_truth_decay]

The U.S. Olympic Committee is threatening to sue the Maine man who put on a unique sporting event last weekend.

Nearly 3,000 people turned out for the Redneck Olympics. The event featured a series of competitions and ended with the roasting of 12 pigs. But USOC officials say the organizer violated the law by using the word "olympics" in his event's title.

This is a story about David---in this case Harold Brooks of Hebron, Maine--and Goliath, the United States Olympic Committee. It all began last weekend on 200 acres of land near Brooks's home.

"We call it the Redneck Olympics, Pig Roast and Music Festival," Brooks says.

In video shot by the Lewiston Sun Journal newspaper, three men in helmets race lawnmowers around a track. Other contestants bobbed for pigs feet, drove

[Cboldt]

-- I believe the word olympics far pre-dates the modern olympic committee, so I doubt they have any rights to the word itself. --

They have some rights to the use of the word ... The United States Olympic Committee and Trademark Infringement

[Recovering_Democrat]

The US Olympic committee can piss off. They do not own the word OLYMPIC any more than Major League Baseball OWNS the word baseball.

[ozaukeemom]

How many schools and other organizations hold various Olympics?

[Dilbert San Diego]

So then, did the organization which runs the Special Olympics get official permission to use the word “Olympics”?

Well, those of us who are football fans know all about this sort of thing. Every year, the week before the Super Bowl, the airwaves are filled with commercials for stores advertising the supplies you need for a party for “the big game” or your “football party”, or using any words but the words “Super Bowl”. The NFL sells official sponsorship rights for companies to use the words “Super Bowl” in advertising. Maybe the Olympics also trademarked the name????

Since there is a World Series of Poker, I assume that baseball has not done anything to trademark the name “World Series”.

[mckenzie7]

Does the Special Olympics have special permission?

[xzins]

I put the word in a google search engine to see how vigorously it’s been enforced..LOL...can inconsistent or capricious protectiveness about their “word” be an argument for the other side?

Special Olympics, Math Olympics, Dolphin Olympics 1, Dolphin Olympics 2, Georgia Golden Olympics, Realtor Olympics, Beer Olympics, Olympic Air, Olympic Paint, Olympic Park, Olympic College, Olympic Globe, Olympic Wire & Cable, Olympic Arms, Olympic Spa, Olympic Security, Olympic Steel, Olympic Beach, Olympic Drums, etc., etc.

Highlighting the “Beer Olympics”

“History
The IBOC was formed in 1978 to solidify Beer Olympism as a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of beer, body, will and mind.

Blending sport with culture and education, Beer Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for quality barley and hops.

The goal of Beer Olympism is to place beer and sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, while promoting a peaceful, well lubricated society.”

I should probably remain a pastor and stay away from “_hithouse” lawyering, huh?

[xzins]

See #26

[ImNotLying]

I was thinking more along the lines of “Olimhicks” cause I are one.

[Cboldt]

-- can inconsistent or capricious protectiveness about their "word" be an argument for the other side? --

Yes. The use that I wondered about is "Special Olympics." Another good argument (not sure it plays in the case of Redneck Olympics, but it might) is that the use is non-commercial. The "super-trademark" covers:

... the following items [words, etc.] for the purpose of trade, to induce the sale of any goods or services, or to promote any theatrical exhibition, athletic performance, or competition

If the Redneck Olympics is a party, then it isn't an exhibition, athletic performance, or competition.

[Cboldt]

-- I was thinking more along the lines of "Olimhicks" cause I are one. --

If the use is infringing, then a soundalike is no defense.

I was thinking a rename to "Oly's [dyslexic] Redlympics," but that does miss the essential catch of "redneck."

[ImNotLying]

Is naked women mud-wrestling a sporting event or just some good ole boys having fun?

[xzins]

I was especially enthused by the long-running Beer Olmpics.

Think I’ll ask my cable company to air it. :>)

[fight_truth_decay]

Gay Games which were originally named the Gay Olympics but were forced to choose a different name due to legal action by the International Olympic Committee-WIKI

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Langvel and the other redneck comedian are going to have material for a whole TV season.

I suggest that the Redneck Olympics have:
1. Blowing up outhouses for distance
2. Greased pig catching
3. Horse tossing (not just horseshoe tossing). You throw the whole thing for distance
4. Moonshine explosions: the biggest explosion wins
5. Fencing: Building a wooden fence around the field in the fastest time
6. Boxing: filling and sealing Home Depot moving boxes in the fastest time.
7. Pie making: Making and baking an apple/cherry pie in the fastest time

[fight_truth_decay]

The United States Supreme Court addressed the Amateur Sports Act in San Francisco Arts and Athletics v. United States Olympic Committee, 483 U.S. 522 (1987). The Court upheld an injunction preventing San Francisco Arts and Athletics (SFAA) from using the word “Olympic” to promote the “Gay Olympic Games.” The Court concluded that the USOC does not have to prove that unauthorized use of the word Olympic was confusing. Second, the word “Olympic has not become generic, removing it from trademark protection. Third, there was no violation of the First Amendment because the Amateur Sports Act applies to commercial speech or speech involved in a theatrical or athletic performance. The Court noted that the danger of the trademark restriction resulting in the infringement of political speech rights was too remote to warrant a violation of the First Amendment. Further, commercial speech is entitled to less protection under the First Amendment. Because the USOC has the right of exclusive use of the words listed in the Act, selling T-shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, and pins all containing the word “Olympic” could undercut the USOC’s efforts to use, and sell the right to use, the word in the future, since much of the words value comes from its limited use. Therefore, the restriction on this kind of commercial speech is justified. -http://www.acluutah.org/olympictrademark.htm

[QBFimi]

All right dammit - then it’s the Oil-Limpicks - doesn’t some Redneck activity involve Wesson Oil?

[RedMDer]

Day 41 and the Freepathon is still on. Please donate today.
Click it.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Someone should tell them to change it to the “Redneck Olimpicks,” this would make it a lot harder for the USOC to sue.

---

No, for better or worse, misspellings don’t help avoid conflicts.

[Atlas Sneezed]

So when is the government of Greece going to sue the Olympics committee for using a term that’s OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS OLD?

---

Lots of words are trademarks.

United.

It’s a word, but you can’t sell airline transport services using it as a trademark.

Jaguar. You get the idea.

Now, I’m not on the side of these leftist a$$holes, but if they hadn’t been running regular athletic events under their brand, no one would use the name for their own competitions to try to benefit from the association.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Since there is a World Series of Poker, I assume that baseball has not done anything to trademark the name “World Series”.

---

Athletics and card game exhibitions are unrelated services.

But don’t mind me, I’ve only been practicing trademark law for decades.