IOC Internet Guidelines for the Written Press and other Non-Rights Holding Media

The guidelines for accredited independent reporters using the Internet in their coverage of the Olympics.

Important facts to know:

• “Media organisations may not include the word “Olympic” or “Olympics” (or any foreign language equivalents thereof) in their Domain Names (e.g. www.[myname]olympics.com would not be permitted while www.[myname].com/olympics would be allowed). Similarly, media organisations may not create stand-alone Olympic-themed websites to host coverage of the Games.”
• News organisations may broadcast via the Internet all or portions of press conferences that take place in the Media Press Centre (MPC) and Whistler Media Centre (WMC), provided there is a delay of at least thirty (30) minutes from the conclusion of the press conference
• All use of Olympic results content provided by the IOC must prominently carry a copyright tag line (“© 2010 IOC”) placed under every results table or list and a text credit is given to Atos Origin and Omega for all Olympic results (-i.e. “Official Results powered by Atos Origin. Timing and results management by Omega”).
• Media organisations may use the Olympic marks, including the Olympic symbol, solely for editorial purposes. More on that here (for news publications) and here (for TV broadcasters)

• Moving images of the Games and play-by-play audio of the Games (including interviews with athletes in the mixed zones and competition venue press conference rooms, or anything else inside an accredited Olympic venue) may not be distributed in any online media coverage.

Olympic Ticket License Agreement

Summary: This is the contract agreed upon when purchasing a ticket for an Olympic event. It’s important to understand that simply by attending a ticketed event, you are agreeing to the terms of this contract. These terms include:

• Each Ticket Bearer agrees that images and sounds of the Games, the Paralympics, and the Cultural Olympiad obtained by such Ticket Bearer with cameras, video and/or audio devices or other means will not be used for broadcast, publication or any other commercial purposes under any circumstances, whether on the internet or otherwise.
• Ticket Bearers may not solicit contributions or distribute literature or flyers or promotional merchandise at any Venue, or wear or bring political, advertising or other promotional or other commercial items or clothing into a Venue. Entry to a Venue will not be granted to any Ticket Bearer who is wearing or carrying any form of political, commercial, advertising or promotional message. Religious and racial propaganda and demonstrations are prohibited inside a Venue.
• The following is prohibited within any Venue:… broadcasting or recording through the use of cellular phones or other recording or transmitting devices (e.g., two-way radios, recording devices, PDAs, or video cameras), use of flash photography or other lighting devices (e.g., laser pens, etc.)…signage and banners containing religious, political, provocative or obscene content and or visible branding and trademarks of non-sponsor companies; flags of non participating countries; flags and banners larger than 2m x 1m; poles larger than 0.9 m (flags cannot be attached to any surface in the venue), animals of any kind (except service animals), and noisemaking devices that in the opinion of VANOC might disrupt the Session or be disturbing to other spectators.
• Tickets may not be used for advertising promotion (including contests and sweepstakes) or other trade purposes without the express written consent of VANOC.

What it means: By entering an Olympic venue, you are forfeiting many of the rights you have in public, including many that concern media. You are allowed to take pictures and video of the Games provided that you do not use those images in a publication or in a commercial context. You may post pictures from inside a Venue to a Flickr or Facebook account. Similarly, video from inside a Venue may be posted to a Facebook account, but not YouTube. Failing to comply with the License Agreement could result in your expulsion from an event, and possible legal action.

Olympic and Paralympics Marks Act

Summary: This Act is a piece of Federal legislation that prohibits a business—during the Games—from using a wide range of marks, logos and expressions (including “Winter” “Gold” and “2010” as seen in Schedules 1, 2 and 3) in a way that might suggest a commercial connection between the business and the Games.

What it means: If you’re not representing a business, don’t worry. Media outlets (including blogs) are exempt from this Act. “For greater certainty, the use of an Olympic or Paralympic mark or a translation of it in any language in the publication or broadcasting of a news report relating to Olympic Games or Paralympic Games, including by means of electronic media, or for the purposes of criticism or parody relating to Olympic Games or Paralympic Games, is not a use in connection with a business.”

Those using IOC’s proprietary marks in a commercial context during the Games may face the usual range of actions in cases of trademark infringement, including cease & desist notices, the possibility of legal action, and sought damages.

Vancouver 2010 Marks Usage Guidelines for News Publications (Paper and Internet)

Summary: As noted above, media use of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Emblem (logo) and other IOC proprietary marks is permitted. This document is a list of rules for Canadian news outlets when it comes to properly using the marks.

Among other things, the guidelines state:

• For the purposes of these Guidelines, a News Publication means a publicly available newspaper, news magazine or journal published on a daily, weekly or monthly basis either in (a) print format in Canada only (a Print Publication) or (b) on a Canadian internet website that originates from a server located in Canada (a Website).
• The Marks may be reproduced only to identify news stories relating solely to the Canadian Olympic Team, the 2008 Games, or the 2010 Winter Games. The Marks may only appear once on any given published page or webpage. Website users must not be able to copy, download or save the Marks, and any attempt to do so (including right-clicking on the emblem) must result in a pop-up notice.

A similar usage guideline for TV News broadcasters is available here.

City of Vancouver 2010 Winter Games By-law

Summary: The 2010 Winter Games By-law is a collection of temporary measures passed by Vancouver City Council in response to the extraordinary circumstances of the Olympic Games. It has attracted a good deal of attention because of the possibility that the laws will be used to restrict civil liberties and quash protest.

What it means: All signs that attempt to make a commercial connection between the Olympics and a non-sponsor third party are banned. Also, as the bylaws are written, individuals displaying non-celebratory signs (meaning signs that do not celebrate the Olympic spirit or add to a festive atmosphere) in Olympic Pedestrian corridors downtown (see map) or at Olympic Venues may have their signs confiscated. Nonetheless, the Vancouver City Council has stressed that the bylaws will not be used to dampen political speech, only prohibit those trying to commercially benefit from Olympic trademarks. A lawsuit challenging the legality of the bylaws as written is pending, as are amendments to the bylaws.

Penalties: Possible $10,000 a day for infringing sign, power for police to enter private property to confiscate offending signs (including non-celebratory signs) with 24 hours notice, $2,000 fine for violating other provisions (no megaphones)

For more information on what signage is permitted under the City of Vancouver’s Sign By-law, please contact the Development Services Enquiry Centre at 604.871.6714 or 604.873.7772, or visit the Development Services website. Learn more.

Guidelines For Non-Rights Holding TV Broadcasters

Important guidelines regarding the TV broadcast of Olympics-related media. These guidelines cover how much coverage can take place in a given day, when coverage may be broadcast, impermissible commercial suggestion, and how rights-holding TV organizations must be credited.

• (3 x 2 x 3) Non-Rights Holding Broadcast Organisations may use a total of six minutes of Olympic Material per day subject to the following provisions:

a) Olympic Material may appear in no more than three programmes per day.

b) No more than two minutes of Olympic Material may be used in any one programme.

c) These programmes must be separated by a period of at least three hours.

d) No more than one third of any individual event may be used in any one programme with a maximum broadcast time of 30 seconds for any individual event.

• (6 x 1 x 2) In the case of an all-news network, the network may use Olympic Material during multiple news programmes, as long as:

a) the Olympic Material is used in accordance with Clause 2 (3 x 2 x 3); or

b) in no more than six news programmes per day and does not exceed a total of one minute in any one programme. These bulletins must be separated by a period of at least two hours. The other provisions of clause 2 above continue to apply.

• Olympic Material may only be used for a period of 48 hours from the earliest time at which broadcast of such Olympic Material by the Non-Rights Holding Broadcast Organisations may begin. After such period, Non-Rights Holding Broadcast Organisations may only transmit archive Olympic Material with the express prior written agreement of the IOC.
• Non-Rights Holding Broadcast Organisations, provided they are holders of ENR accreditation, will have access without equipment (audio or video), to all Olympic venues, and with equipment (audio or video) to the Main Press Centre (MPC) and Whistler Media Centre (WMC).

Holders of ENR accreditations shall not have access to Olympic events listed as ticketed high-demand sessions.

• Non-Rights Holding Broadcast Organisations may broadcast, via the Internet, all or portions of press conferences that take place in the MPC and WMC, without any territorial restrictions, provided that there is a delay of at least thirty minutes from the conclusion of the press conference.
• Non-Rights Holding Broadcast Organisations shall respect the following provisions:

a) they shall not make available or provide Olympic Material to any third party.

b) they shall ensure that no advertising, promotion, publicity or other message appears at the same time (be it superimposed or on a split screen or otherwise) as Olympic Material;

c) they shall ensure that no advertising or other message is placed before, during or after the broadcast of Olympic Material, in such a manner as to imply an association or connection between any third party, or third party’s product or service, and the Olympics;

d) they must give an on screen credit to the Rights Holding Broadcaster in their particular territory during each broadcast of Olympic Material. The credit shall be in the form of leaving on the Rights Holding Broadcaster watermark, or, should the Olympic Material not be sourced through the Rights Holding Broadcaster, a super video credit of at least five seconds to read as follows: “Courtesy of (Name of Rights Holding Broadcaster)”

IOC Blogging Guidelines for Accredited Persons at the 2010 Olympic Games

Summary: For Accredited persons, this document lays out the permitted scope and content of your blog. For non-Accredited persons, these guidelines do not apply to you.

• It is required that, when Accredited Persons at the Games post any Olympic Content, it be confined solely to their own personal Olympic-related experience. Blogs of Accredited Persons should take the form of a diary or journal and, in any event, should not contain any interviews with, or stories about, other Accredited Persons…[B]logs of Accredited Persons containing Olympic Content should at all times conform to the Olympic spirit and the fundamental principles of Olympism as contained in the Olympic Charter, and be dignified and in good taste.

The Guidelines also cover the use of still pictures (which are permitted provided that images do not contain sporting action of the Games), the presence of advertising and sponsorships on an Accredited Person’s blog (not permitted unless the advert is for an IOC/NOC partner and follows certain formatting rules), and the use of sound or moving images from the Games (not permitted).

Other Useful Links

Olympic Graphic Standards Manual

Guidelines on how the Marks and Emblems of the Games must be displayed.

Guidelines For Non-Rights Holding Radio Broadcasters

Rules for radio broadcasters without distribution rights, including what kind of equipment is permitted and where.

IOC Internet Guidelines for Athletes, Coaches, Trainers, Officials and any other Accredited Participants

Contains information governing what kind of interviews Athletes and Coaches may participate in, how they may act as commentators, and how any pictures or video they collect may be distributed.

Olympic Charter

The overarching governing document of the IOC. Includes Paragraph 3 of Bye-law to Rule 49 which states that “Only those persons accredited as media may act as journalists, reporters or in any other media capacity.”

Olympic Legal Observer Manual

An informational document (not legal advice) published by the BCCLA and Pivot Legal Society that advises non-protestors of their rights when dealing with the police.