Source: China IP News

On July 31, three years after Beijing/Zhangjiakou won the bid of the 2022 Winter Games , the revised Regulations on the Protection of Olympic Symbols went into force. On the day instant, Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games filed a publication application for the first batch of Olympic and Paralympic symbols to the Trademark Office (TMO) under the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).

Under the Regulations, the right owner of the Olympic symbols shall file the Olympic Symbols to the competent IP administrative department for publication. The protection of Paralympic symbols will be covered by the regulations. The filed symbols include 14 Olympic and 4 Paralympic symbols, covering special symbols and names such as official emblems, Chinese and English names of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

 "The Olympic symbols signify the Olympic Games and Olympic spirits, and important rights of IOC and hosting countries," said a TMO official. It is not only the responsibility and obligation for the hosting countries to protect the Olympic symbols, but also an essential measure to guarantee the success of Olympic Games. TMO will provide full support to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, formulate special work plan on IP protection of the Olympic Games especially Olympic symbols, to crack down on infringement of the exclusive rights of Olympic symbols and create a strong legal climate for the smooth progress of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

"We cannot go without strong legal support for Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022", noted Liu Hongbo, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs Department of Beijing Organizing Committee. The revision for the Regulations, balances the IP protection of Olympic symbols and social public interests, broadens protected criteria, improves the protection level, and interacts with other laws and regulations. After the publication of the application, Beijing Organizing Committee will actively exercise the rights conferred to symbols owners, make the best use of developing, utilizing and maintaining brand value of symbols, and firmly defend rights and interests by law against infringement of the exclusive rights of symbols and unfair competition acts. In addition, Beijing Organizing Committee will launch deep propaganda for revised Regulations, popularize knowledge, promote more attention and support for protection on Olympic and Paralympic symbols from all walks of society and showcase a positive outlook of hosting countries to international communities.