TTOC SG Brian Lewis. Photo courtesy en.acnolympic.org
THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) is concerned over the alleged infringements of both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and London 2012 Intellectual Property Rights, due to the unauthorised commercial and promotional use of the Olympic marks and expressions.
TTOC secretary general Brian Lewis, in a media release, commented, “we once again take the opportunity to remind companies and organisations that no company, organisation or individual of Trinidad and Tobago is authorised to use the Olympic marks and logos (event marks) in any form of advertising, sale, marketing or public relations without the expressed permission of the IOC, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and the TTOC.”
Comprising the event marks are the Olympic rings, the marks and logos of the TTOC, LOCOG and other National Olympic Committees and Olympic Games Organising Committees, past, present or future.
Denis St Bernard
Lewis continued, “this restriction relates to all forms of media, including but not limited to video, print, audio, new media and mobile telephone and also extends to advertising and public relations expressions such as ‘good luck’ wishes and congratulatory messages to accredited Olympic athletes.
“The unauthorised use of the Games marks and expressions is strictly prohibited,” he stressed.
Prominent UK based Trinidadian businessman and CENUK Director of operations Denis St Bernard, says ‘there is an urgent need to educate our people in areas likes these regarding intellectual property rights infringements etc.
The mere fact that the business of sports is now gaining growing interest in the Caribbean as potentially lucrative industry means that the knowledge and understanding of IP is even more important to us in the Caribbean. We at Caribbean Enterprise Network (CEN) have already identified a pool of leading Consultants who are prepared to assist persons and businesses in understanding and navigating this space in the international market.’
Article from http://www.newsday.co.tt
