Robolympics Legal Update

Posted 16 Dec 2003 at 15:37 UTC by steve

A new Wired News article sheds more light on the United States Olympic Committee's legal attack on the Robolympics event. We first reported on the legal problems in a story last month. Since that time, David Calkins has filed a response saying that Robolympics is not an athletic event. Since US law appears to grant the USOC control over the term "Olympic" only for athletic events, this will likely become the legal center of the debate. The bloated USOC board has become widely criticized for other misconduct and is currently being scrutinized by federal investigators. Previous targets of USOC include the Deaf Olympics, the Special Olympics, the World Senior Olympics, and the Gay Olympics. Oddly, the USOC allowed the Rat Olympics to continue for 28 years before attacking them - perhaps they feel a special allegiance to their own kind? If you'd like to help the good guys, make a donation to the Robolympics legal defense fund or email the USOC and let them know what you think of them.

If it's just the name . . ., posted 16 Dec 2003 at 16:06 UTC by jstrohm » (Observer)

If it's just the name they are suing over they could rename it the Rob01ympics (that's a zero not an 'O').

name changes, posted 16 Dec 2003 at 17:03 UTC by steve » (Master)

The zero in place of o idea isn't bad. Someone else suggested to me that they change it to Robo-lympics since the USOC doesn't appear to have any control over the word "lympics".

They need a powerful patron saint, posted 16 Dec 2003 at 19:59 UTC by earlwb » (Master)

They really need a powerful patron saint like Mrs Shriver did for the Special Olympics group. Then the IOC would permit it. Maybe someone should try and contact Gov. Swartzenegger or his wife for help. Of course a Congress member who overseas the IOC budget amounts from the USA would probably be a lot better.

Alternate sound-alike name they probably- - , posted 16 Dec 2003 at 20:22 UTC by Frank McNeill » (Apprentice)

would not object to. How about something like this for everybody else, the (whatever name)Olympdics) Surely the Olympics guys wouldn't object to that.

On name changes, posted 16 Dec 2003 at 21:56 UTC by dcalkins » (Master)

They've C&D/sue any one even close. They "kindly" included a copy of a summary judgement against "skylympics" - an R/C plane event. Changing it to a zero or otherwize would not effect their attitude.

We've got some pro-bono council for the reply, but we do in fact need a "champion". Perhaps Arnie would out of sympathy to his favorite role... But a really good law firm looking for a ton of publicity would be preferred.

Expect updates on Wired/BoingBoing as they happen - but I doubt there will be major changes for the next month.

-David Calkins

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