Hacking famous logos

[CVW]

I've had a good idea for a funky T shirt design related to the London Olympics. It's pretty niche but would be really popular within that niche in the run up to 2012.

My design hinges (unsurprisingly) on a hack of the Olympic rings. The best form would be 4 of the rings with 1 ring hacked to reflect the overall theme.

My question to all graphics types ( I am only a lowly marketer with more money making ideas than talent):

How much do you have to hack a famous logo, before you are unlikely to be sued?

If 1 ring hack was "not enough" there are other ways of achieving the emblem, but not quite as iconic.

Thanks in advance.

[ranchero80]

VERY SKETCHY GROUNDS. I would be really careful, if your design looks remotely similar to the olympic rings they will probably chase you with a big team of scary lawyers!

[CVW]

I found this on Wikipedia, when looking for a reference to the actual ownership of the rings (you never know, it could be free for use under some convenant or other but no):

"The Olympic Movement is very protective of its symbols; among other things, it claims an exclusive copyright on any arrangement of five rings, irrespective of alignment, color or lack thereof, as well as to any use of the word Olympic."

This would lead me to thinking that I would need to make the hack different enough, which given the idea I have, is not impossible.

I have often wondered how t shirt designers get away with producing a Nike or a Coke logo, with the wrong word used. Perhaps they just don't get caught - the whole guerilla thing will not work for me as the design would be released under a known brand that I am linked to.

Any other thoughts?

[ranchero80]

They don't get caught by the way they distribute the tshirts. Most are sold through street vendors - places where you can sell a box of 100 mixed shirts to a vendor and they don't ask for a receipt!!

not that I've done anything like this before...

[CVW]

I will try out a cautious version of the design and see if it is still any good.

If the humour still comes across to what is a fairly small, savvy audience then fine. It's one of those things that "if you know, you know" - (might even make it even more wink, wink).

If not, I shall stick that idea on the spike.

Thanks for your thoughts.