PORT ANGELES — Nine months after her winery’s 9/11, Kathy Charlton is celebrating with her trademark joie de vivre.
The principal owner of Olympic Cellars has emerged from a fight with what her attorney calls “the 900-pound gorilla” — the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Charlton is the victor in some ways, but she minces no words when describing the effect her dispute with the USOC will have on her and other businesses that bear the “Olympic” name.
“I can still operate as Olympic Cellars [and] sell wine via the Internet . . . as long as my sales and marketing of ‘Olympic Cellars’ branded wines beyond my local area are not deemed ‘substantial,'” Charlton said this week in a written statement.
The settlement with the USOC means that although the word “Olympic” signifies this peninsula’s beauty and identity — and thus is an ideal brand name — firms here cannot use it to promote themselves beyond the region.
“By forcing Olympic Peninsula businesses to be local in nature and restricting sales to the Olympic Peninsula, it unjustly limits our ability to grow, be competitive and survive,” Charlton said.
“Sure, we could change our business names. It certainly would be easier, cheaper and less hassle.
“But that means shedding our heritage as well; basically giving in and giving up.
“And we just can’t do that.”
