The Olympic Properties

• Author: Marianne Chappuis
• Position: Trademark Legal Counsel, International Olympic Committee
• Pages: 12-17

p. 12 2012 | 3

THE OLY MPIC

PROPERTIES By Marianne Chappuis,

Trademark Legal Coun sel,

International Olympic Committee

is iconic Oly mpic symbol enjoys sp ecial

protection unde r the Nairobi Treaty on

the Protecti on of the Olympic Symbol .

States that h ave signed up to the Treat y

are obliged to r efuse or inval idate the

registra tion as a mark and to proh ibit the

use for commercia l purposes of a ny sign

consistin g of or containing t he Olympic

symbol, ex cept with the IOC ’s authorization.