ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607290057
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FALLS CHURCH
SOURCE: Associated Press
Call it a deal, call it a steal, just don't call it the Olympics.
That's the message after a car dealership owned by Lt. Gov. Don Beyer was brought to the attention of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games because it may have wrongly used the word ``Olympics.''
In a radio ad, Don Beyer Volvo touted its ``Volvolympics'' - and urged listeners to dash on down to Beyer Volvo for a really good deal on a new or used car.
The Atlanta committee jealously guards the ``O'' word, and businesses, tourism bureaus, church groups and not-for-profit organizations have all been warned to not even think about using the ``Olympic'' in promotions.
One thousand advertising agencies nationwide also have received letters warning them not to use ``Olympic'' or ``Games'' and definitely not ``Olympic Games.''
The radio ad was brought to the committee's attention by an anonymous group calling itself Falls Church Civic Leaders. Beyer, a Democrat, is a likely candidate for governor in 1997.
Bill Ferguson, director of enforcement at Atlanta Centennial Olympic Properties, which has budgeted more than $10 million to squelch unlawful use of the ``O'' word, said he hasn't seen the complaint but the matter will be pursued if indeed Beyer Volvo hasn't paid up.
Corporate sponsors pay $40 million apiece for the right to use the seven-letter adjective, although cheaper, economy-size sponsorship rights go for less.
``I don't care what office someone is running for,'' Ferguson said, ``if someone's using the trademarks in a commercial manner, it would be an infringement, and we'll deal with it.''
Bruce Baber, an attorney in the law firm working with Atlanta Centennial Olympic Properties, said his office is aware of the complaint, but he could not confirm if an investigation has begun.
Beyer's spokeswoman, Page Boinest, said the ad was simply a play on words.
``This all came to light because of an allegation from an anonymous group of people, so it's hard to take it very seriously,'' she said. ``It appears that there are group of folks who aren't even willing to identify themselves who want to make a little trouble for the lieutenant governor.''
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB