CCHA vs. Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympics Committee (COC) is opposing the CCHA's use of our logo, which we designed in 2004 and have been using ever since.
Hi Everyone,
This is beyond belief. On this past Monday, we received a letter from our Patent and Trademark Attorneys advising us that The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) objected to our use of a torch and flame in our logo. We had applied to the Canadian trademark office to have our logo trademarked over a year ago. It was published and received no objections and therefore it was granted. The COC applied to have the "Objection period extended" as they failed to object during the legal time allowed and the Trademark office granted their wish.
Our Logo has been in use for over six years and is not even close to that used by the COC. There are a number of symbolic features in our logo such as the child passing on the torch to an adult and the stylized flame, being an upside down heart, is fairly obvious. The logo was actually inspired by a line in "Flanders Fields": "To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high". We like to call it our "Torch of Life" and hence our Motto: "CCHA - for Life".
The Canadian Olympic Committee is funded by the people of Canada and using their power to trample on society's weakest and most vulnerable heart patients: the patients with Congenital Heart Disease. Even if we wanted to participate in the COC sponsored special Olympics our hearts would not be strong enough to do so. This fight is going to cost us far more money than we have and therefore I am asking you if you would kindly donate to our Canadian Olympic Defence Fund. You can easily do this on line by visiting our website www.cchaforlife.org and click on the "Donate" button. You will automatically be emailed a Canada Revenue Tax Receipt. Every $10.00 or more will help.
CCHA is a totally volunteer organization operated by CHD patients with no salaries or overhead. In the alternative you could write your feelings to:
Mr. Chis Rudge, CEO,
The Canadian Olympic Committee,
You can also email the COC media contact person Isabelle Hodge at ihodge@olympic.ca
I would also ask you to forward this letter to all of your friends, family, associates and Member of Parliament. Patients with Congenital Heart Disease know all about bullying, and we're not going to take it anymore!
I thank you for your support.
Yours Very Truly,
John MacEachern
President
CCHApresident@cchaforlife.org
