information Warning (especially for 'newbies') concerning registering or acquiring 'Olympic' domains

"Go to LA" was the slogan during LA Olympics.

lock said:

"Go to LA" was the slogan during LA Olympics.

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A 'Slogan' is NOT a trademark.

So nothing wrong with others finding one.

TheBaldOne said:

A 'Slogan' is NOT a trademark.

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What does that even mean? If a slogan is perceptible on the goods or in connection with the services and is recognized by consumers as distinguishing goods of one source from another in the marketplace, then it is a trademark. Any word, phrase, symbol, etc., can be a trademark, and that certainly includes slogans....

Word Mark THIS BUD'S FOR YOU
Goods and Services IC 032. US 048. G & S: Beer. FIRST USE: 19800301. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19800301
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73368350
Filing Date June 21, 1982
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition April 19, 1983
Registration Number 1332479
Registration Date April 23, 1985
Owner (REGISTRANT) Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated CORPORATION MISSOURI One Busch Pl. St. Louis MISSOURI 63118


Word Mark JUST DO IT
Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Retail store services and on-line retail store services featuring apparel, apparel accessories, footwear, footwear accessories, headwear, eyewear and accessories, sporting goods and equipment, bags, sports bags, sports and fitness products and accessories. FIRST USE: 19940701. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19940701
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 88170627
Filing Date October 26, 2018
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition January 29, 2019
Registration Number 5727940
Registration Date April 16, 2019
Owner (REGISTRANT) Nike, Inc. CORPORATION OREGON One Bowerman Drive Beaverton OREGON 97005


Word Mark HELP, I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP!
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Central dispatch security system composed of telephone transmitters and receivers so that the elderly and handicapped can send emergency signals to summon medical aid when necessary. FIRST USE: 19880103. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19880115
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86078356
Filing Date September 30, 2013
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition January 7, 2014
Registration Number 4559120
Registration Date July 1, 2014
Owner (REGISTRANT) Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 16027 Ventura Blvd. Suite 400 Encino CALIFORNIA 91436

Incidentally, in the US, the "OLYMPIC" name and associated indications aren't just protected trademarks. They have their OWN US LAW:

https://www.namepros.com/threads/is-this-name-safe-to-use-olympic.1017990/#post-6169021

@jberryhill - You are the lawyer and I without hesitation give way to your knowledge on these matters. (I should also say and one who's posts I always try to read as they are 'essential' to domainers IMO to get an understanding of the law concerning domaining).

I originally put the initial post of this thread up as a warning to newbie domainers in the 'General Discussion' forum, it was then rightly moved to the 'Legal' section by the mods. I should say that it was not and is not my intention to give or try to give legal advice on this or any other matter, I am not qualified to do so. My intention was to warn the many 'newbie domainers' from registering Olympic domains that they find available for registration and thus waste their money. This I thought pertinent as the Tokyo Games are due to now be held this summer. (The matter being something that I had personally made sure to avoid in planning the possible development of www.Go.LA. and the 2028 games there.)

Now, when I posted that a "A 'Slogan' is NOT a trademark." I think this is generally correct - though admitted "a 'slogan' can of course be trademarked and can be recognised as a trademark but is not a trademark within itself as I understand it. If memory serves correctly we had a case here in the UK some decades ago about the advertising slogan "Beanz Meanz Heinz" (referring to Heinz Baked Beans - see advertisers and marketeers were even playing with altering spelling in the 1960's / 1970's - long before domainers). Someone (I do not recall the case specifics) tried to use the same spelling 'Beanz Meanz' and of course Heinz objected and won.

But, my 'A slogan is not a trademark' could have been better phrased as "A 'slogan' is not necessarily a trade mark" (and I think this would be legally correct. I would love to gain your opinion on this.)

(I should also say, for clarity, that I have sought out and received here in the UK legal advice concerning my domain 'Go.LA' to clarify its usage in advertising and marketing as meaning "Go (dot) Los Angeles" - hence my particular carefulness about restricting any connection with the upcoming 2028 Olympics apart from news on the website. For instance I can though refer to the period of the Olympics in LA 2028 in marketing such as how much sponsors are paying to the IOC and/or those running the said games, i.e the sponsorships of Delta Airlines, Airbnb, Nike's, and others' and the huge amounts involved but I must not 'link' the domain or website directly or implied with said Olympic Games.)

I would in finishing again say this thread was created as a friendly 'heads-up' to newbie domainers to look into the matter before registering a domain they think could be worth a fortune only to find out they have thrown their money down the drain.

Yours,

Bill

Hello:
I got annoyed after reading news, bought “boycott olympics”. Told daughter - she said “boycott” was replaced by “cancel” - so I bought “cancel olympics.”

My big idea is to create sites with olympics news feeds and related advertising.

But when something seems to good to be true…

Millions of search results for cancel olympics. Could not understand why domain was available.

So - I can get sued for using or selling my “boycott olympics” and “cancel olympics” domains ?

Thank you so much for information.

Wheredidmybraingo said:

Hello:
I got annoyed after reading news

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Still time to delete domain and your comments.
I didn't quote them to make it easier.