US Olympic Committee sends cease and desist letter to a knitting social network

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Beryana

So, I'm a member of Ravelry.com - a social network for knitters and crocheters - but I'm not sure how many others have heard of this little incident.

Every other year (Olympic year) there is a "Ravelympics" which consists of knittings and crocheting 'competitions' over the course of the actual Olympic Games. Seems the USOC has decided these competitions actually detract from the accomplishments of the Olympic athletes. . . Personally, I think their stance is stupid on a number of levels - one of which being not all of the 2 million Ravelry members live in the US (though the site is hosted and maintained in the US). Another thought that came to mind is if the USOC claims trademark infringement on the term 'Ravelympics' what about all the 'Mini Olympics' that take place on college campuses within the US?! Or all the Greek restaurants with Olympic in their names. . .

Here is an article that links to the letter (or at least covers the entire thing without requiring registration at Ravelry - unless you are a knitter or crocheter ). http://gawker.com/5920036/us-olympic...ium=socialflow

You forgot the spinners, weavers, and dyers.

The Tour de Fleece is held every year and the Tour de France organization has never been publicly butt hurt about it.

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I love that they had to succumb to the power of a bunch of knitting-needle wielding old ladies who like to knit while they watch the Olympics. The response had me laughing out loud. Somehow I bet they didn't appreciate the voracity with which the knitting world would fight back.

I LOVE the Olympics and what they stand for (less so what they have become financially), but if you're talking Olympics=financial gain, it seems to me they just discovered a new market to tap for their advertisers. Middle aged white ladies like to knit while they watch the Olympics!

Ravelympics isn't old ladies, isn't just knitting, and it isn't focused on sitting around watching the Olympics. Furthermore, ascribing knitting to only middle aged white ladies is rather ignorant.

A group of knitters in Britain were making pillows for the Paralympic athletes and were also given cease and desist commands, which is just one of the shady things the Olympic Committee has done surrounding the games in London this year.