2010 Games organizers are collaborating with Canadian law enforcement and anti-counterfeiting experts to protect the Olympic brand.
Companies such as Nike or Versace often take similar steps, a VANOC official told reporters today.
With the Winter Games approaching, there’s been an “upswing” in counterfeit merchandise across the country, said Bill Cooper, director of commercial rights management for the Vancouver organizing committee.
“We’re seeing a growing number of cases,” he said. “It’s happening in significant numbers, it’s happening in great variety.”
Games organizers have recorded over 1500 brand violations to date, many related to counterfeit goods.
Retail sales of branded t-shirts, mugs, stuffed toys and even maple syrup are expected to exceed $500 million – a vital revenue source for cash-strapped VANOC.
Games organizers have teamed with Kestenberg Siegal Lipkus LLP, a firm specializing in anti-counterfeiting investigations, since 2007. VANOC also collaborates with the RCMP, Vancouver police and the Canada Border Services Agency to clamp down on unauthorized merchandise.
Cooper said the arrangement is nothing special.
“Law enforcement obviously services a wide variety of rights holders and we are just one,” he said.
Asked how much VANOC spends to fight counterfeiting, Cooper said it’s hard to pin down an actual figure when so many players are involved.
“We share services,” he explained. “Typically how the industry works is you have investigative teams that are concurrently working with us, VANOC, but other right holders like Hockey Canada or Nike or Gucci or Versace.”
Olympics organizers have tried to be as helpful as they can. They’ve provided a manual to law enforcement agencies that describes the complex security measures used to separate official goods from the fakes.
For example, each piece of apparel comes attached to a special hangtag. On it, a small hologram filled with seven layers of cryptic security devices and a serial number.
Cooper said VANOC has more at stake than money when counterfeit goods hit the market. There’s legal obligations to the International Olympics Committee and the embarrassment of eroding a globally recognized logo.
“In layman’s terms,” Cooper said, “it’s about returning the brand in better shape than when we got it.”
Geoff Dembicki reports for The Tyee.
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freebear
2 years ago
"“it’s about returning the brand in better shape than when we
got it"
What about returning the tax payers' dollars, VANOC?
The Blackbird
2 years ago
Nike and Versace ...
... don't employ roving teams of monitors with confiscatory powers to protect their brands from "ambush marketing" and eliminate all signage, banners, etc. with messages unrelated to their brand.
Nike, Versace, Hockey Canada, Gucci, etc., do not as a rule infringe on the Constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms of citizens in nations where they do business and, if they get caught doing so would certainly be prosecuted for doing so.
The IOC and VANOC are trying to lend the appearance that they are no different than other corporations, but their demands far exceed anything the public would find acceptable in the day-to-day business world.
Thank heaven for Pivot Legal Society and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association for standing up to the 2010 Olympic ambush on our Fundamental Freedoms as guaranteed in our Charter.
Not that I want it to happen, in fact I hope it doesn't happen, but I am fearful the absolute disregard shown by the IOC and VANOC - indeed, by our own governments who are selling out those they are bound to serve - will lead to violence in the street.
Perhaps the IOC would like to see this happen to show the world who the boss really is.
urbanhippie
2 years ago
Public Violence
"Not that I want it to happen, in fact I hope it doesn't happen, but I am fearful the absolute disregard shown by the IOC and VANOC - indeed, by our own governments who are selling out those they are bound to serve - will lead to violence in the street."
I share this sentiment, but I also fear the violence will be enacted at one another: Olympic supporters and opponents. Much like the Clay-quot protests in the early 90s, focus was lost as one was either pro or anti logger, instead of anti corporate-govt' policy.
We need to keep our eyes on all the ringmasters of this five ring circus, and fully exercise our duty of civil disobedience when it comes to shelving our rights to peaceful protest.
I for one plan to make a satirical, mock Olympic shirt announcing the atrocities committed by parties responsible.
Don't hate or hurt the athletes; change the system with truthful laughter.