US Olympic Committee sends cease and desist letter to a knitting social network

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Beryana

So, I'm a member of Ravelry.com - a social network for knitters and crocheters - but I'm not sure how many others have heard of this little incident.

Every other year (Olympic year) there is a "Ravelympics" which consists of knittings and crocheting 'competitions' over the course of the actual Olympic Games. Seems the USOC has decided these competitions actually detract from the accomplishments of the Olympic athletes. . . Personally, I think their stance is stupid on a number of levels - one of which being not all of the 2 million Ravelry members live in the US (though the site is hosted and maintained in the US). Another thought that came to mind is if the USOC claims trademark infringement on the term 'Ravelympics' what about all the 'Mini Olympics' that take place on college campuses within the US?! Or all the Greek restaurants with Olympic in their names. . .

Here is an article that links to the letter (or at least covers the entire thing without requiring registration at Ravelry - unless you are a knitter or crocheter ). http://gawker.com/5920036/us-olympic...ium=socialflow

You forgot the spinners, weavers, and dyers.

The Tour de Fleece is held every year and the Tour de France organization has never been publicly butt hurt about it.

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I love that they had to succumb to the power of a bunch of knitting-needle wielding old ladies who like to knit while they watch the Olympics. The response had me laughing out loud. Somehow I bet they didn't appreciate the voracity with which the knitting world would fight back.

I LOVE the Olympics and what they stand for (less so what they have become financially), but if you're talking Olympics=financial gain, it seems to me they just discovered a new market to tap for their advertisers. Middle aged white ladies like to knit while they watch the Olympics!

Ravelympics isn't old ladies, isn't just knitting, and it isn't focused on sitting around watching the Olympics. Furthermore, ascribing knitting to only middle aged white ladies is rather ignorant.

A group of knitters in Britain were making pillows for the Paralympic athletes and were also given cease and desist commands, which is just one of the shady things the Olympic Committee has done surrounding the games in London this year.

[melindawarren]

Agh. I'm a huge sports follower (ok, a two-sport follower: gymnastics and figure skating, with dabbles of soccer), so I wind up watching the Olympics every two years. But really?!

[AGDee]

I believe the problem is that they were selling patterns that contained trademarks. I think that part of it is fair. It was my understanding, when most of our orgs began using Greek Licensing, that if we don't try to protect our trademarks and then find ourselves in a situation where we really need to protect our marks, the court case can be thrown out. So, by selling patterns containing the Olympic rings, they are in violation. I don't see the other points as valid though. I remember the question came up whether we can still make things with our letters if we're not licensed and the answer we received was that if we aren't selling things, then we are free to use our trademarks.

[honeychile]

Sounds like the Olympic Games people need to find a knitting needle in an uncomfortable place!

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Ravelympics isn't old ladies, isn't just knitting, and it isn't focused on sitting around watching the Olympics. Furthermore, ascribing knitting to only middle aged white ladies is rather ignorant.

THANK YOU.

Originally Posted by honeychile

Sounds like the Olympic Games people need to find a knitting needle in an uncomfortable place!

LOL, and thank you!

I see absolutely nothing wrong with encouraging people to knit or crochet while watching the Olympic Games. For crying out loud, it's not like the Olympics offers speed knitting or crocheting as an event ... it's not as if there'd be actual confusion. There is no copyright infringement here.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

THANK YOU.

You're welcome my sister in cross stitching.

I also totally forgot to mention how the Olympic Committee gets a side eye with a gas face for what they did at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010. The Cowichan First Nations people have a beautiful knitting tradition, and a bid was put in for the Cowichan people to provide sweaters to the Hudson Bay Company to sell in conjunction with the Olympics. They were not given the bid and if I remember right, the sweaters weren't even going to be made in a Canadian factory, but in China. Eventually it was worked out, but to have a design called "Cowichan" mass produced and leave the people who own the tradition out in the cold, then go after everyone who is using words or symbols associated with the Olympics is so shady I'm surprised rickets isn't on the rise from the lack of sunlight and resulting vitamin D deficiency.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...n-sweater.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...c-sweater.html

[knitgeek]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I believe the problem is that they were selling patterns that contained trademarks. I think that part of it is fair. It was my understanding, when most of our orgs began using Greek Licensing, that if we don't try to protect our trademarks and then find ourselves in a situation where we really need to protect our marks, the court case can be thrown out. So, by selling patterns containing the Olympic rings, they are in violation. I don't see the other points as valid though. I remember the question came up whether we can still make things with our letters if we're not licensed and the answer we received was that if we aren't selling things, then we are free to use our trademarks.

I'm a Ravelry member, and I cannot speak for all 2million of us, but I was upset because of how they treated us. Their language was extremely disrespect and it sounded as if our talents aren't valid because they aren't athletic, and we were disrespecting the athletes in a major way. I get the trademark issue, and I fully understand (especially because at least one of the patterns was for sale).

Also, it's nice to see fellow Greek crafters! As my name implies, I'm a knitter, and I love it.

[AGDee]

That's why I said "that part of it is fair". I don't think the rest of it was necessary or respectful. That is all that should have been addressed, in my opinion.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Obviously the lawyers rule the USOC. Otherwise you'd think the Committee could see that other groups using the "Olympics" name - especially for something like a knitting Olympics that supports the Olympics - really just help to boost the overall awareness of the Olympics. Marketing fail.