Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

4 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What I have to say... by illegalcortex · · Score: 4, Informative

    Considering they passed a special law, prior art really has nothing to do with it. In the US, the Olympics long ago go a heinous law passed that gave them trademark rights on things you couldn't normally trademark. They didn't go so far as the anthem, but you cannot legally put the name "Olympic" in your business. Who cares of the thousands of years of prior art. This came to my attention when they recently forced the band named the Olympic Hopefuls to change. And it was, unfortunately, all very legal of them to do so.

    Here's the law:
    http://www.inta.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=187&Itemid=59&getcontent=1

    Here's a story on the band:
    http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507047/20050805/index.jhtml

  2. Re:What about the French Version? by Petrushka · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Its time for revolution! Viva Quebec!"

    "Car ton bras sait porter l'épée", indeed. (But it might be wise to learn to say that in French ... "Vive le Québec", not "viva".)

  3. Re:That's ok by innerweb · · Score: 4, Informative

    Oh, come on! You expect many people to know (let alone believe) that the original did not have the words under god in it? And that it was written by a baptist minister)? You expect too much from the average person! But, they ought to know it anyway. ;-)

    InnerWeb

    --
    Freud might say that Intelligent Design is religion's ID.
  4. Re:That's ok by Curtman · · Score: 4, Informative
    Also try googling "Manifest Destiny". You'll find this at Wikipedia:

    Before 1815
    During the American Revolution and the early years of independence there were both peaceful and violent attempts to include Canada in the United States. The Revolutionaries hoped French Canadians would join the Thirteen Colonies in the effort to throw off the rule of the British Empire. Canada was invited to send representatives to the Continental Congress, and was pre-approved for joining the United States in the Articles of Confederation. In the Paris peace negotiations, Benjamin Franklin attempted to persuade Britain to cede Canada to the United States. Canada was invaded during the War of Independence, and again during the War of 1812. None of these measures proved successful in bringing Canada onto the side of the Thirteen Colonies.