[d@DCC] [Fwd: Canada's New Government Moves to Protect the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Brand]

From: Russell McOrmond <russell _-at-_ flora.ca>
To: General Copyright Discussions <discuss (at) list.digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:44:43 -0500

   I haven't read this bill yet, but it may be of interest for other 
people to check this out.   Is the "special" nature of this 
"intellectual property" a reduction in time over what this type of right 
would otherwise have, or yet another type of exclusive right over 
something which should be in the public domain?

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Canada's New Government Moves to Protect the Vancouver 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Brand
Date: 	Fri, 2 Mar 2007 13:16:40 -0500
From: 	INDUSTRY-INDUSTRIE <Industrie-Industry@ic.gc.ca>




Date: 2007-03-02

*OTTAWA, March 2, 2007* -- The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of
Industry, announced today the introduction in Parliament of a bill that
will provide special, time-limited intellectual property protection for
Olympic and Paralympic words and symbols in the lead up to the Vancouver
2010 Winter Games. The Olympic and Paralympic Marks Act will strengthen
the exclusive rights of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) over these words and symbols
and improve its ability to negotiate sponsorship agreements with
businesses interested in associating themselves with the 2010 Winter Games.

"Canada's New Government is a proud partner of the Vancouver 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Minister Bernier. "By
introducing this bill today, we are demonstrating our continued
commitment to VANOC and its efforts to secure private sector
sponsorships, an important source of funding for the Games."

"Hosting the 2010 Winter Games will provide Canadian businesses, from
coast to coast, with significant economic benefits. The sustained growth
in numbers of foreign visitors, construction of Games-related sport and
event venues, and the potential for increased sales at home and abroad
are only a few examples of the positive impacts the Games will have on
Canada's economy and our international reputation," said the Honourable
David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the
Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics. "This legislation
provides appropriate protection for 2010 Winter Games sponsors in
recognition of their important contribution toward the success of the
Games in Vancouver and Whistler and will ensure respectful and
responsible business practices."

In July 2003, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Vancouver
to be the host city for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. A
significant part of the funding for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games
comes from sponsorship agreements between VANOC and the private sector.

The legislationbill will enable VANOC to maximize sponsorship
opportunities by strengthening existing trade-mark protection over
Olympic and Paralympic marks and by preventing non-sponsors from
advertising in a manner that falsely suggests a business connection with
the Games (known as "ambush marketing").

The security and stability brought about by these changes will reassure
existing and potential sponsors without impacting on legitimate business
practices, such as the use of a protected word in a business address or
to explain the nature of a good or service. The bill also contains a
"sunset" clause which will result in the automatic termination of some
of its protections once the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games end and the need
for sponsorship funding is no longer as pressing. VANOC has committed to
use its intellectual property rights in a disciplined, sensitive, fair
and transparent manner, and will be issuing public guidelines to that
effect in the coming weeks.

By introducing this bill, Canada is aligning itself with best practices
in other host countries that have enacted special legislation for
Olympic and Paralympic marks. These include the Sydney 2000 Summer
Games, the Athens 2004 Summer Games, the Torino 2006 Winter Games and
the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. The bill is also consistent with
similarly intentioned legislation passed by Parliament in respect of the
Montréal 1976 Summer Games.

For more information, please contact:

Isabelle Fontaine

Office of the Honourable Maxime Bernier

Minister of Industry

613-995-9001

Media Relations

Industry Canada

613-943-2502


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-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  Please help us tell the Canadian Parliament to protect our property
  rights as owners of Information Technology. Sign the petition!
  http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/ict/

  "The government, lobbied by legacy copyright holders and hardware
   manufacturers, can pry my camcorder, computer, home theatre, or
   portable media player from my cold dead hands!"
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