Sooooooo, the USOC decided they were going to piss in Ravelry's sandbox. Every Olympics, members of Ravelry "participate" in the Games in their own enthusiastic way by putting on the Ravelympics. Just as the athletes are challenging themselves physically, the members of Ravelry challenge themselves creatively. Much fun is had by all as we knit/crochet/spin/weave, really only competing with ourselves. We have no corporate sponsors, no big money, nothing, just having fun by supporting the Olympic Athletes in our own unique way. UNTIL, the USOC decided they didn't like our name, nor some of our projects and sent a cease and desist order. Okay, granted we might possibly be infringing unintentionally on trademark. We were parodying the Games by having crafting games. But we did call it Ravelympics and we did have patterns with Olympic themes, some of which were then offered for sale. No one is really disputing that there may be trademark infringement. The issue that the Ravelry world had a problem with was this:
"The USOC is responsible for preserving the Olympic Movement and
its ideals within the United States. Part of that
responsibility is to ensure that Olympic trademarks, imagery and terminology
are protected and given the appropriate respect. We believe using the
name “Ravelympics” for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf
hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature
of the Olympic Games. In a sense, it is disrespectful to our country’s
finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work."
Denigrate?????? Disrespectful???? Um, USOC, I assume you now know how to spell "PR NIGHTMARE"?
This was in the letter, too:
"Over more than a century, the Olympic Games have brought athletes
around the world together to compete in an event that has come to mean much
more than just a competition between the world’s best athletes. The
Olympic Games represent ideals that go beyond sport to encompass culture and
education, tolerance and respect, world peace and harmony."
I think that the USOC just demonstrated exactly the opposite of all those Olympic ideals. Their letter was not tolerant, respectful, peaceful, or harmonic. And what part of crafting isn't cultural or educational? In some countries, knitting has been taught to schoolchildren. This cease and desist letter is apparently their "standard form". Really? They regularly rely on slandering and libelling their opponents? Because that's what those comments are, slander and libel. I looked up the definitions. The character of Ravelry was defamed and THAT was what the crafting community had issue with.
The Ravelympics generated a huge amount of interest in the Olympic Games. It was our way of celebrating the efforts of ALL athletes, not just in the US of A. Because what the USOC failed to take into account, is that the Olympic Games are WORLD wide, not solely a USA purview. And another thing that the USOC failed to take into account, is that Ravelry is also WORLD wide. There is a reason why it is called the WORLD WIDE WEB. America is becoming known as a highly litigious nation. Everybody sue, sue everybody. We are also starting to get the reputation of being bullies. This endeavor by the USOC is now a highly charged example of being litigious bullies. No one disputes their right to defend their trademark, but ALL agree that it was NOT necessary to do it in such a heavy, hack-handed manner.
Crafters from all over the world joined together to watch the Olympic Games. Some of those people would not have otherwise watched. Now, a whole lot of people are going to be boycotting the Olympic Games and/or boycotting the US sponsors. So, the USOC may have "attempted" to look out for the Athletes, but only succeeded in revealing themselves as money-hungry bullies, who only care about themselves and their own bottom line. They have ended up hurting the very Athletes that they claim they are "protecting". In the words of my Ravelry companions from the British Isles: Bad form, USOC, very very bad form!