Intellectual property of the IOC: protection and administrative responsibility for the use of Olympic symbols in Russia

The article studies the concepts related to the intellectual property of the International Olympic Committee, namely the Olympic symbolism as a trademark and the ways to protect it internationally and nationally. The author lists the legal acts which protect intellectual property, patents and trademarks and shows the liability according to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The paper analyses legal judgements from the open database “RosPravosudie”. The issue of judgements was to bring administrative action against individuals and legal persons for illegal use of trademark with a view to profit. The paper cites the examples of legitimate use of the names and images of the Olympic symbols, as well as the list of persons who possess the right to do this according to the Russian legislation on a free basis, including examples of the use of the Olympics symbols on a contract basis. Based on the analysis of the legislative and judicial framework, the article reveals the main features of the intellectual property protection on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as the downward trend of the instant administrative cases.