As you all know, I’m a relatively new knitter. One of the things I’ve been enjoying about the new hobby is the awesome online community that goes along with it. The blogs I’ve been reading, patterns I’ve been browsing and youtube tutorials have done nothing but increase my enthusiasm for the craft. I think the idea of a “knit along” is really neat and am considering in participating in one eventually.
I also like the idea of tying friendly competitions to sporting events. While I may not be able to participate in the Tour de France, I can participate in [NAME REDACTED], a competition that has people setting spinning challenges for themselves during the duration of the race. And I’m DEFINITELY never going to be an Olympic athlete but participating in the “Ravelympics” is something I could do.
Well, I COULD have done until the US Olympic comittee decided to be dicks about it. Apparently they have trademarked anything having to do with the Olympics The Games That Shall Not Be Named, including ”lympics”. Sorry Greek Gods, you’re going to have to rename your mountain!
Copyright law and intellectual properties are kind of ridiculous sometimes. They don’t protect the people they’re meant to protect and it basically means that big corporations get to be assholes. I’m all for protecting your content, if someone is selling Olympic The Games That Shall Not Be Named merchandise illegally, go after them. By all means. I’m even fine with wanting the Olypmic The Games That Shall Not Be Named imagery taken down from pages as that could imply partnership. But the name “Ravelympics”? It’s not even “Ravelry Olympic Games Games That Shall Not Be Named”. If someone is knitting a sweater as a challenge to themselves in conjunction with the Olympic Games Games That Shall Not Be Named and doing so in a community that is supporting them? Maybe you should reevaluate your priorities.
No one is making money here. People are celebrating an event in their own fashion.
TEAM SPIRIT: YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG
(By the way, I get as angry as anyone when people are being taken advantage of and stolen from. When I see people ripping off t-shirt designs, art designs, etc I get beyond pissed.)
