Welcome to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Brand Usage Guidelines site - an overview of the USOPC’s intellectual property “IP” rights and guidance on how Olympic and Paralympic trademarks, images and terms may be used. These guidelines are not intended to provide legal advice and any information contained herein does not in any way limit the USOPC’s legal rights and remedies. If you think you may have infringed or might be about to infringe the USOPC’s rights, we recommend that you ask an attorney.

Unlike most National Olympic and Paralympic Committees around the world, the USOPC does not receive government funding to support athlete programs. The USOPC is responsible for overseeing amateur athletics in the United States and for training, funding and sending Team USA to the Olympic and Paralympic Games every two years. To allow the USOPC to fulfill these responsibilities, Congress granted the USOPC broad rights to control commercial uses of USOPC IP in the United States. Official corporate partners provide critical funding for elite athletes and athlete programs. The USOPC allows our official partners and licensees to use USOPC trademarks in recognition of their support for these athletes.

Federal law gives the USOPC extensive rights to control the use of USOPC IP in the United States and allows the USOPC to file a lawsuit against any entity using such intellectual property for commercial purposes without consent. We are committed to protect the USOPC’s rights and those of its sponsors, so we can maintain a sound sponsorship program that will support Team USA and send our athletes to the Games.

When others use USOPC IP without authorization, it creates a disincentive for our partners to continue funding Team USA in exchange for the right to promote that association with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team. Additionally, when individuals or other charitable organizations use USOPC IP in their own fundraising, it detracts from the USOPC’s ability to raise money for Team USA.