Infringers on Olympic emblem should bear legal liability

By Yu Nan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-01-17 16:17

The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games-Fuwa.[BOCOG]

An officer with the Legal Affairs Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) claims that any 'mischievous parody' of Olympic emblems and mascots should be held legally responsible, the Beijing News reported yesterday.

The Olympic emblem, namely "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing", originally posted on a well-known domestic online sports community was reportedly hijacked by some mischievous netizens and turned into a washroom sign.

Beijing Olympic mascots Fuwa did not escape the mean-spirited zeal of netizens either. The heads of the Fuwas were replaced with the heads of comedians such as Zhao Benshan and Ge You.

The officer condemned these acts as "highly improper" warning that it is an alleged infringement of BOCOG copyright, regardless of whether the recreations were meant for commercial purposes.

The original version of Beijing Olympic emblem, "Chinese Seal,Dancing Beijing". [BOCOG/File Photo]

"These have violated copyright law as well as regulations issued by BOCOG, concerning the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) of the Olympic emblem unveiled early in 2003, "he said.

"What's more, it is the desecration of the Olympic spirit", he added.

The legal officer also said that the BOCOG will reserve the right to pursue legal liability.

Embodying the traditional Olympic spirit, filled with Beijing's hospitality and hopes, carrying out the city's commitment to the world, the emblem was issued for the Beijing Olympics on August 3, 2003.

The regulation on the protection of IPR concerning the emblem prohibited actions from setting apart, distorting or juggling the emblem by any organization or individual under any circumstance. Making the emblem part of other incorporated logos is also banned.