The International Olympic Committee is Hypervigilant in Monitoring their Olympic Trademarks
As we look back on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, remember to use caution when using any of the Olympic trademarks. To date, the United States Olympic And Paralympic Committee (USOPC) owns 172 trademarks in the United States. The oldest registration still active was registered on Sept. 18, 1973, claiming use since 1920 (see U.S. Reg. No. 968,566).
As is often the case in the months leading up to and surrounding the Games, many companies look to use Olympic imagery and symbols to promote their products. This also includes photographs displaying renditions of the Olympic rings. However, if you are using the Olympic trademarks or photographs of the Olympic rings, you may be opening yourself to claims of infringement.
Use of the Olympic trademarks for commercial purposes is prohibited. In other words, use of the Olympic trademarks on your product packaging or website without consent from the USOPC is not allowed. Additionally, photographs of the Olympic rings can also be risky. Even if the photograph is in the public domain, the USOPC owns numerous trademarks on the Olympic rings. Thus, even using a photograph of the Olympic rings can bring the possibility of a cease and desist letter. And the USOPC has a history of aggressively policing its rights in the Olympics trademarks. Thus, if your marketing team is looking to use any of the Olympic trademarks or photos of the Olympic rings, tread with caution.