Every four years, we warn creators about the risks that come with using the Olympic brand as part of your business content. This year, we have a lawsuit filed against Logan Paul’s PRIME drink company!
On Friday, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee filed a lawsuit against Prime Hydration, LLC. I love these types of lawsuits because they always include some great visuals (see full complaint attached to the bottom of this post). This also serves as a great learning opportunity for some of the nuances with how the Olympic brand is protected.
Quick Takeaways
- Every country has special laws specifically for protecting the Olympic brand around the globe. In the U.S., this is the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, 36 USC § 220506(a). However, the USOPC also has several registered trademarks that can also cause issues for creators.
- Avoid using official trademarks, logos, and hashtags. Don’t create a false association or sponsorship with the Olympic brands. This is referred to as ambush marketing.
- Don’t just take and reuse photos or video of the events without permission. It requires a license in most instances.
- Need alternatives? Use non-Olympic, generic stock sporting assets for your project. Come up with your own creative hashtag or mini-branding around your project.
The Olympics-sized Lawsuit
In this lawsuit, the USOPC brings claims under the U.S. statute protecting the Olympic brand, as well as various trademark law and unfair competition laws in Colorado (where the lawsuit was filed and the USOPC operates).
The USOPC is on high alert during this time every four years. As they explain in the lawsuit, the USOPC “engages in a robust licensing program” and will go to any length to ensure that revenue stream and market is protected.
For PRIME, they allegedly crossed the line with using the terms “OLYMPIC”, “OLYMPIAN”, “TEAM USA”, and “GOING FOR GOLD”, in connection with their marketing campaigns and product packaging for a Kevin Durant-branded drink.
The case is United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee v. Prime Hydration, LLC, 1:24-cv-02001, (D. Colo.), filed on July 19, 2024. Complaint is embedded below.
