Errol at Washington Winemaker in Bellevue, Washington relates the story of three women winemakers being threatened by the U.S. Olympic Committee for daring to use the name 'Olympic Cellars' for their winery, which is located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State'.
Gee fellas, I think the Olympic Mountain range has been around longer than your trademark. The mountain range name was made official in 1864 and was in common and published use before that.
Make love, not war!
Posted by: Hesyicomose | January 12, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Sad that everyone is so sue happy these days. Hope it all works out.
Posted by: Alyssa the Wine Enthusiats | January 23, 2008 at 11:56 PM
The term "Olympic" is even older than the name of the mountain range in Washington state. The ancient Greeks (my ancestors) used it way before the USOC did and I never heard of the USOC getting permission from the Greeks. Just drive by any Greek restaurant or taverna in America. Half of them are named "Olympic Cafe" or "Olympic Flame" or "Olympic Taverna". Get a life USOC.
Posted by: el Greco | May 31, 2008 at 09:59 AM
Wouldn't this simply boil down to whether the U.S. Olympic Committee owns copyrights to the word "Olympic"? As el Greco points out, if they want to defend it as their word, they've got their work cut out for them.
Posted by: Sarah Bohr | June 20, 2008 at 03:34 PM