State Council, Protection of Olympic Symbols Regulations

Promulgated: February 4 2002
Effective: April 1 2002
Applicability: The Olympic symbols referred to in the Regulations include: the five Olympic ring symbol; the Olympic flag, motto, emblem and anthem; the names "OLYMPIC", "OLYMPICS", "OLYMPIAD" and "OLYMPIC GAMES"; the names, emblems and symbols of the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid committee; and the mascots, anthem and slogans of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (Article 2).
The proprietors of the Olympic symbols referred to in the Regulations mean the International Olympic Committee, the Chinese Olympic Committee and Organizing Committee of Games of the XXIX Olympiad (Article 3).

Main contents: The Regulations require anyone using an Olympic symbol for commercial purposes to have the approval of the proprietor and a licensing contract signed between them (Article 8). Commercial purposes include the use of the Olympic symbols on products, in connection with services provided or in advertisements; the manufacture or sale of the Olympic symbols as well as any other use of the Olympic symbols that might suggest sponsorship of the proprietors of the Olympic symbols (Article 5). Disputes arising from the use of the Olympic symbols without approval may be handled by the people's court or the administrative department for industry and commerce. In addition to the Regulations, the Olympic symbols are also protected by the PRC, Copyright Law, PRC, Trademark Law, PRC, Patent Law and Administration of Special Symbols Regulations.
Related legislation: PRC, Copyright Law (Revised), Oct 27 2001, CLP 2001 No.10 p53; PRC, Trademark Law (2nd Revision), Oct 27 2001, CLP 2001 No.10 p75; PRC, Patent Law (2nd Revision), Aug 25 2000, CLP 2000 No.8 p7 and Administration of Special Symbols Regulations