No Laughing Matter: USOC Threatens To Sue Comedy Club

USOC Making ImprovOlympic Comedy Club Change Name

The USOC this month said that it would sue the ImprovOlympic comedy club in Chicago for trademark infringement if it did not change its name, according to Rebecca Winters of TIME. Comedian Andy Dick said of the name, “It is confusing. I wandered in there with my discus once.” Winters reports rather than go to court, the club will now be called I.O. (TIME, 7/18 issue). Owner Charna Halpern said that the club’s L.A. version, ImprovOlympic West, will change its name to I.O. West (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/11). In Chicago, Jamie Francisco noted the USOC “approached Halpern about changing the name five years ago,” and she “received a cease-and-desist letter about two months ago.” Halpern said that she “doesn’t agree with the [USOC’s] ownership of the word” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/11).