So much preparation goes into each iteration of the Olympics
that host nations often begin this work more than five years before
the actual event. Protecting the Intellectual Property (IP)
associated with the games is a critically important yet often
unsung part of this planning.
Before this month's Beijing Games even started, the China
National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) had
established a significant number of registered trademarks for the competition
— and was already cracking down harshly on any violations.
But to fully understand the ironclad protections of
Olympics-related trademarks, it is necessary to look at the broader
historical and international context as well as the measures being
undertaken in Beijing right now.
