Contested Bid

[watervole]

Be still my beating heart!  We actually have two bids for Eastercon 2012.

I feel really good about this.  It'll be great to have a choice. It's been a long time since we had any option other than to bid for/against the only bid in town.

Comments

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

I hear suggestions that at least one of the bids has a name riffing off the 2012 Olympics. If so, then I'd implore the bid committee to look at the (restrictive and vigorously enforced) laws about protecting the Olympic brand.

http://www.london2012.com/about-us/our-brand/using-the-brand.php

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Both have. Though one more so than the other. I've passed the link onto Olympicon.

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

We dont think they'll be any problems with using Olympus - not least because we have a reason for using it - which will become apparent if we win the bid ...

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

Oh and its nothing to do with the Olympics

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

It's a commercial event (you're taking money), in 2012, with a name beginning 'Olymp-'. I've read the legislation and the guidance document, and it seems clear to me that the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games is going to considerable lengths to stop people from doing this.

As with most legal disputes, your motivation is, I'm sorry to say, irrelevant.

I'm not being an interfering busybody. I'd potentially like to come to your convention (if it wins the 2012 bid I can't see why, if I can make it, I wouldn't come.) But I don't want my membership fee to end up being spent on legal fees and damages.

I may be wrong. You may indeed be in the clear. But I think it would be a really good idea to either seek formal legal advice or ask the London games organisers for permission.

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

I had a chat with someone on the london number - basically as long as its not using olympiC or the rings/logo's etc they dont think theres an issue. The using the brand page says much the same no use of olympics or simular(ie olympix isnt one to use). Given that Olympus is a pronoun and connected to what we are doing theres no issues ...

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

That said - i'ved added a small print 'we are nothing to do with Olympics2012' to my flyer design

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Probably a good idea!

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

In that case, all well and good - but I would be inclined to be paranoid and get something from them in writing. The trouble with phone calls is that it's awfully easy for someone to say they can't remember talking to you; it's rather harder to deny a letter!

(There's a legal principle called estoppel by which if someone promises not to enforce their rights against you, and you commit yourself to effort or expenditure as a result, then they cannot withdraw that promise later. But evidence of the promise is very, very helpful.)

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

Intrestingly enough they seem more worried about the London2012 bit and 2012 - london 2012 i'm prepared to give them but I seriously dont think they can copyright a year ?

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Normally they couldn't, but HMG has passed special legislation (the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006) which means that they get a special pseudo-copyright over '2012' if used in any context suggesting connection to the Olympics.

Yes, this legislation is wide-ranging and rather draconian, which is why I was worried, and why I still think you should try to get it confirmed in writing that LOGOG are happy for you to use 'Olympus' as a name.

[murphys-lawyer.livejournal.com]

Whatever the twits over-zealously protecting their rings, and the words "Olympics", "Games", "Bronze", "Silver", and "Gold" may get up to, both bids are perfectly free to use the word "Eastercon".

A reminder that the FAQ on its use is here (http://www.menageri.demon.co.uk/Eastercon/Eastercon.html).

Oh, and yay! Politicking!

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

Excellent news!

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

> We actually have two bids for Eastercon 2012.

I am living through the singularity!

[cdave]

Will there be exponentially more bid each year then?

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

you can't actually predict what life will be like after the singularity :-)