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IOC Trademarks Part of Canadian National Anthem

Posted by kdawson on from the can't-say-that-eh dept.

gravis777 sends us to BoingBoing for news that the International Olympic Committee has trademarked a line from the Canadian National Anthem and is threatening to sue anyone who uses it. The line in question is "with glowing hearts." "The committee is so serious about protecting the Olympic brand it managed to get a landmark piece of legislation passed in the House of Commons last year that made using certain phrases related to the Games a violation of law. The list includes the number 2010 and the word 'winter,' phrases that normally couldn't be trademarked because they are so general."

40 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. That's ok by khendron · · Score: 5, Funny

    Most of us Canadians don't know the words anyway.

    --
    Life is like a web application. Sometime you need cookies just to get by.
    1. Re:That's ok by philspear · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hey, the article was tagged "YOUR rights online," talking to ME. I'm not canadian, it's not affecting MY rights. WHAT'S THE DEAL!?!?

    2. Re:That's ok by erroneus · · Score: 3, Funny

      Canada has a national anthem? I thought they were still applying for statehood in the U.S.

    3. Re:That's ok by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Geeze I'm from Texas and I know the Canadian Anthem, it's the theme to Hockey Night in Canada, right?

    4. Re:That's ok by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I thought they were still applying for statehood in the U.S.

      No, we have given up on that idea as the US is history.

      On Oct 17 we start formal negotiations to join the EU.

    5. Re:That's ok by tomhudson · · Score: 2, Funny

      Most of us Canadians don't know the words anyway.

      You can't use them now anyway ... at least not in the "not-spring-not-summer-not-fall" season, or in "that-time-between-2009-and-2011".

      frak the greedy SOBs

    6. Re:That's ok by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Oh Shut Up!

      That statement of yours isn't funny and is why a lot of Canadians hold somewhat of a resentment towards Americans. I DO believe that the resentment is misplaced, as it's merely "jokers" like you who give the rest of your countrymen (and countrywomen) a bad rap, not the general populace.

      Do you mind if I stalk your account and tear into you any time you make a joke involving the USA? I'll be watching, just to make sure you're not a hypocrit.

    7. Re:That's ok by Alsee · · Score: 3, Funny

      Geeze I'm from Texas and I know the Canadian Anthem

      They should join the US.

      Ummm, and the Canadians too, if they want.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    8. Re:That's ok by Ihmhi · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh yeah, you should see their lightsaber chainsaws and Sith beavers.

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
    9. Re:That's ok by Tickety-boo · · Score: 2, Funny

      Deal, but if we take Quebec, you have to take Detroit.

      I think that is only fair.

      --
      Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad.
    10. Re:That's ok by Azar · · Score: 4, Funny

      For crying out loud, we took Celine Dion off your hands for FOUR YEARS. Now you're just asking too much.

  2. O Canada! by KillerBob · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hmm... not too keen on them trying to copyright my national anthem... but the copyright on the use of the word "winter", I like. We get too much snow as it is. Mother nature fears a lawsuit...

    --
    If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
    1. Re:O Canada! by Fnordulicious · · Score: 2, Funny

      The Queen of Canada is just as Canadian as Stephen Harper, although she talks kinda strange for a Canadian.

    2. Re:O Canada! by Aardpig · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, the Queen of Canada is Canadian. The Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is British. The Queen of Australia is Australian. Legally, they are three completely separate entities; they just happen to inhabit the same hot body (M'am).

      --
      Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
    3. Re:O Canada! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      That's HRHILF Queen Elizabeth II, to you!

  3. Ok so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The IOC are a bunch of fascists - with glowing hearts"

    How was that? Sue me.

    1. Re:Ok so... by dgatwood · · Score: 2, Funny

      Always fear those with glowing hearts. They might still be radioactive.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  4. Coming by Rinisari · · Score: 4, Funny

    Coming Winter 2010.....

    SNOW!

    --
    Colin Dean Go a year without DRM
    1. Re:Coming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      SNOW! (TM)

      Fixed it for you.

  5. Public domain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hereby claim invention of the phrase 'fuck litigious international committees', and release this phrase into the public domain.

  6. 2010 with glowing hearts by Majik+Sheff · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please will the insanity stop?

    2010 2010 2010

    They can kiss my ass with glowing hearts.

    --
    Women are like electronics: you don't know how damaged they are until you try to turn them on.
    1. Re:2010 with glowing hearts by Fluffeh · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hmmmm there goes my ideas for making a nuclear apocalypse zombie game that was going to be titled "2010 - with glowing hearts!"

      Damn you IOC, spoil my ideas for a zombie fps!

      --
      Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
  7. Excuse me but... by GlobalColding · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is it 2010 base 10, or 2010 base 8? 'Cause that still leaves a lot of wiggle room.

    1. Re:Excuse me but... by eeyore · · Score: 2, Funny
      You could have 0x7DA printed on your geeky and extremely unofficial Olympic T-shirt.

      --
      E

  8. Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh no!

    2010 winter
    with glowing hearts afire
    I mock Olympics

  9. this is retarded by theheadlessrabbit · · Score: 4, Funny

    so how will counting work with this new trademark in place?

    2008
    2009 ...
    profit!

    --
    -I only code in BASIC.-
    1. Re:this is retarded by Yvan256 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The Americans went ahead and changed the range of dates for the daytime savings.

      We're doing one better by skipping 2010 completely.

  10. What about the French Version? by kaufmanmoore · · Score: 5, Funny

    How dare they not consider the French Version on the same level as the English version. This is an insult to Quebec. Its time for revolution! Viva Quebec!

    1. Re:What about the French Version? by couchslug · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Its time for revolution! Viva Quebec!"

      French identity must be preserved!
      Break out the white banners of victory, and greet the enemy legs akimbo!

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    2. Re:What about the French Version? by Patchw0rk+F0g · · Score: 1, Funny

      Break out the white banners of victory, and greet the enemy legs akimbo!

      I've visited Montreal. That's a disturbing mental visual.

      --
      When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. ~~ Hunter S. Thompson
  11. Sung to the lyrics of O Canada by andreyvul · · Score: 5, Funny

    I O C
    Shut the fu-u-uck up!
    Go fuck yourselves
    You greedy heartless fucks.
    With glowing hearts,
    We will block your channels
    Say goodbye to your ratings!
    Fu-u-u-uck you,
    I O C_______,
    You're the Sciento-lo-gy!
    Of organized
    Spo-o-o-orts
    Shove Winter up your ass 2010 times.
    Shove the medals up your ass and go-o broke.

    --
    proud caffeine whore
  12. Only in America..... by aingleby · · Score: 5, Funny

    .. oh wait ....

    1. Re:Only in America..... by joneil · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...actually, yes in America, indirectly. The man who wrote "Oh Canada" first served as a Lieutenant in the Northern Army during the Civil War, a Rhode Island regiment. Perhaps the line "we stand on guard for thee" was somehow inspired or influenced by his military service in the USA. In which case, maybe the US government can claim "prior art" to part of the anthem, and in turn sue the IOC. Just stick the RIAA on the case and see what happens. :)

  13. To the IOC by SageLikeFool · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dear IOC,

    FUCK YOU.

    With glowing hearts,
    Canadian Citizens

  14. Is Kevin McBride available? by HermDog · · Score: 2, Funny

    We can commission him to sue Canada for infringing our dumb law patent. All we have to do is demand $700 billion, and our little banking problem is all cleared up!

    --
    JADBP
  15. On related news... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Funny
    Steven Spielberg has announced a sequel to ET (The Extra-Terrestrial) for release in February 2010.

    Tagline:

    He is afraid. He is totally alone. He is 3 million light years from home. The IOC is after him...

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  16. Winter by tompaulco · · Score: 2, Funny

    Winter, winter, winter, winter, winter, 2010, winter, 2010, 2010, winter, Chicago, 2010, winter.

    With glowing hearts,
    Me.


    P.S. IOC, I would be happy to translate this for you in case you can;t figure out my point.

    --
    If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
  17. Ahhh Canada! by ConanG · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Maple Leaf State

  18. Stupid Canadians by oobdeoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    .....Would expect no less from a simple country - what with their socialized medicine, clean cities, low crime rate and tough gun-control laws. Any money-hungry conglomerate should be able to get whatever they want out of those backwards hosers.

  19. Oh oh by martin-boundary · · Score: 4, Funny
    You think that's funny? My TV has just turned itself on by itself, and now it's showing the words

    IOC: ALL THESE WORDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT 2010. ATTEMPT NO OLYMPICS THERE.

    This is going to end badly.