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IOC sues website using Olympics logos

Thursday, 24 July, 2008
The IOC's Beijing 2008 logo sets the backdrop for a gymnastics demonstration in the United Arab Emirates as part fo the lead-up to the games. (AAP)
The International Olympic Committee and US Olympic Committee have announced they filed lawsuits against a firm operating websites using Olympic trademarks without permission.

The suit claims XL and H Limited, also known as Xclusive Leisure and Hospitality, and related companies have operated several websites using Olympic trademarks to convey the false impression of official Olympic affiliation.

RELATED: Olympics websites

Ghost ticket vendors

The lawsuits were brought in the Northern District of California and in the state of Arizona and state that those behind them have no links to the IOC, US Olympic Committee (USOC), the Beijing Olympics or its organising committee.

Several consumers who purchased tickets from one of the websites thinking it a legitimate ticketing source for the Beijing Olympics contacted the USOC after emails and telephone calls went unanswered and no tickets were received.

False tickets not uncommon

Jet Set Sports and CoSport are the only official ticket agencies authorised for US sales of Beijing Olympics tickets.

The USOC named www.beijingticketing.com and www.beijing-2008tickets.com as the primary websites at the heart of the lawsuits, claiming they illegally used Olympic trademarks in connection with fraudulent activity, undermining the Olympic brand and misleading consumers for money.

Several other websites using variations of Beijing Olympic tickets 2008 were also named in the lawsuit.
Source: AFP