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If you use the phrase "with glowing hearts" from the Canadian national anthem, prepare to be sued. The International Olympic Committee has trademarked the line and is prepared to sue anyone who uses it without their permission. "O Canada" is in the public domain, so its words may be used without government permission.
What is even more baffling to me is that even though the words are in the public domain, they are part of a national anthem. These words are supposed to belong to the citizens of Canada, not to the Olympic Committee.
The Committee has been known to limit free speech in other ways; for instance, during the Athens games, attendees wearing clothing with logos of companies that weren't sponsoring the games were forced to cover up these logos.
The IOC also has trademarked several other words and phrases pertaining to the Olympics, including "Winter" and "2010". I am interested to see how much they will fight for those. It seems like the IOC would have a hard time suing people for using words that common.
-Sara
WITH GLOWING HEARTS.
(In Canada, milk comes in bags. And I could be sued for this post :P)
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1 comment:
WOW, this article left me flabergasted, how could they keep people from saying parts of their own anthems?.... I wonder why they only have trademarks with the Canandian Anthem, maybe they have the United States anthem and we dont know it :) Just don't say, "And the rockets' red glare,
The bombs bursting in air".
These rules are getting rediculous.
-wettlaufer
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