Rock band hits hurdle with 'Olympic' name

Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
July 28, 2005


In its race to become the Twin Cities' most popular new rock band, the Olympic Hopefuls ran up against a hurdle.

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) contacted the tracksuit-wearing pop-rockers and asked them to change their name -- or risk legal action. Turns out, the word "olympic" was trademarked in a little-known 1950 congressional act.

So, meet "the Hopefuls."

"We're trying to be good sports about it -- no pun intended," quipped Nathan Roise, manager of 2024 Records, the band's Minneapolis-based record label.

The band has had its share of laughs over the prospective David-vs.-Goliath battle, including a suggestion that it play the next Olympics for free as a tradeoff for using the label. Nevertheless, the group took the threat seriously.

"It was like someone telling me I couldn't live in my house anymore, that I would have to find a new house," said singer-guitarist Darren Jackson.

The change adds a sour taste to the Hopefuls' recent sweet success.

They just came off a busy month that put their name in front of new audiences at the Basilica Block Party and the Taste of Minnesota.

Ironically, the band chose its name after deciding that its old moniker, Camaro, would raise a red flag for trademark lawyers.

It's not uncommon for bands to run into trademark disputes, but the conflict is usually with other groups -- resulting in doctored-up names such as Dinosaur Jr. or the Charlatans U.K.

A similar case arose recently between the pop duo the Postal Service and the U.S. Postal Service, but it was amicably resolved: The band will perform at a USPS convention in November.

Darryl Siebel, spokesman for the USOC in Colorado Springs, Colo., said his committee is required by law to protect the Olympic trademark.

Major corporations such as Coca-Cola and McDonald's pay millions of dollars for rights to the Olympic name, and that money is used in turn to support the U.S. teams. "If the [name] is overused and watered-down, it could hinder our efforts to raise the money that's vital for supporting our great U.S. athletes," Siebel said.

The band's lawyer, Dennis Pelowski, said it considered fighting the committee after receiving the initial letter this spring but backed down when he read up on the matter.

"The law is pretty clearly written," he said.

Paul Kosmides, who owns an electric-wiring company in Plymouth, is well aware of the law. The USOC nearly took his family to court in 2002 over the name of its business, Olympic Electric Co., which was established by Kosmides' father, a native of Greece.

The name was changed to OlympiaTech.

"It was a hassle and very expensive, and it never really made any sense," said Kosmides. During a recent trip to Greece, he said he recounted the story of his legal battle. The Greeks "found it amusing that the [USOC] thinks it owns the name," he said.

The Hopefuls' attorney was more sympathetic to the Olympic committee's action.

"They've actually been pretty good to the band," Pelowski said, noting that the committee hasn't required the band to stop selling its well-received album "The Fuses Refuse to Burn," which displays the old name on the front.

The USOC even showed a bit of humor, Pelowski said. One representative reportedly pointed out that the Hopefuls' colorful stage outfits are Puma tracksuits and not Adidas, the official supplier for U.S. Olympic athletes.

"I'm sure the band will be just as good with the shorter name," said the USOC's Siebel.

But will they have to sacrifice their trademark look now that they're no longer "Olympic"? For now, the tracksuits will stay -- if only to help salvage the band's identity, said co-leader Jackson.

"We're still the same band; we just have to get the word out to the public that we're just the Hopefuls now," he said.

Look for the Hopefuls Aug. 19 at the 400 Bar in Minneapolis and Aug. 20 at the Minnesota Zoo.

Chris Riemenschneider is at chrisr@startribune.com.