Author, Olympic Committee tilt over name use
By Paige Dickerson, Peninsula Daily News
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The author of Best of the Olympic Peninsula 2007 has heard nothing since September from the USOC - which had threatened him with legal action since January, saying his use of the word "Olympic" tread on the committee's trademarks.
Bausher credits widespread August publicity with the silence since September.
"They had been calling me on the phone, sending me letters and threatening me, " Bausher said.
"But once there was some public attention drawn to their activities - they didn't apologize or say they were retracting anything - they just stopped talking to me."
Bausher includes a disclaimer in the back of his booklet stating that it has no affiliation with the USOC.
He also lists 68 other geographical features, businesses and organizations with the "O" word in them that also have no affiliation with the USOC.
"For now, there's a non-resolution resolution," Bausher said.
"They know that I'm not hurting them, and they haven't threatened me since the publicity hit."
Applied for trademark
Bausher caught the attention of the USOC by applying for a federal trademark for his booklet.
The Colorado-based organization set up by Congress to oversee the United States' involvement in the Olympic Games effort sent Bausher a letter requesting the trademark application be withdrawn or he could face lawsuit.
Although his application was denied on other grounds, the USOC persisted in requesting he not use the word "Olympic" for his booklet.
"I didn't even really care that much about the trademark," Bausher said.
"I had seen some other authors that had done that, and thought it would be a good idea.
"But that is really what put me on their radar."
'Olympic' too broad
His trademark application was denied because the geographic term "Olympic" was too broad, and because his list couldn't claim to be a comprehensive overview of the "best" offered in the entire area, he said.
"It wasn't denied on the grounds that the USOC was complaining about," he said.
The USOC owns a near-exclusive U.S. franchise to all things Olympic.
The federal Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1978 granted the USOC extraordinary control over the term "Olympic" and all of the symbols of the Olympic Games.
An exemption was made for businesses that referred to the geographic region rather than the competition.
In addition to referencing the area, the business must also operate in the state of Washington west of the Cascade Mountain Range, with no substantial presence outside the region.
Bausher ran into problems because he began marketing his booklet online.
It sells for $10.83, according to his Web site, http://www.olympicmountainschool.com/guide.htm.
Selling his book on the Web site of his Amanda Park-based Olympic Mountain School gave him an international platform to market his business.
Not alone
Kathy Charlton, Olympic Cellars owner, ran into the same problem in recent months when the USOC directed her to turn down online customers who had not previously purchased from her and had not visited the winery.
Although Bausher is relieved that the USOC has apparently left him alone for now, he said it was a continuing problem for other North Olympic Peninsula businesses, one being Charlton.
"The last time I talked to [Charlton], she hadn't been having any problems with them, and was, as they say, letting a sleeping dog lie," Bausher said.
"I have told her that I would be there for emotional support, and to talk to anyone she might need me to about this issue."
In the meantime, the Eagle Scout and Ivy Leaguer is continuing to sell his book.
"This hasn't had any impact on what I'm doing here," Bausher said.
"I am not a threat.
"I'm not doing anything wrong.
"I'm not competing for some sort of political grant.
"It isn't worth their time or energy to try and sue me over this.
"I don't have anything for them to take."
Bausher said he wishes the committee would focus on the businesses and organizations that are actually trying to "rip-off" the Olympics by making T-shirts and other "knock-off" products, he said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: December 30. 2007 9:00PM