As I watch the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, I am struck by all of the design work that goes into the ceremony and the games. Who designs the vast opening and closing ceremony productions? Does the host country hire some or all the people who appear in the productions or are some or all volunteers? Who holds the intellectual property rights to the program elements and the recording of the program? The International Olympic Committee, I guess . . . . It strikes me that the Olympic Games have become big business, and intellectual property rights have become important to the value of that business. The World Intellectual Property Oganization notes that “[t]he Games are as much a celebration of innovation and creativity as they are of humanity, fair play and sporting excellence.”
Perhaps most amusing to me in the run-up to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games has been the coverage of the U.S. opening ceremony outfits, designed by Ralph Lauren. Even for those of you who purport to know nothing about fashion design, you may recall that Ralph Lauren designs those shirts and shorts and sweaters with the little embroidered polo horse on the
