The French National Olympic and Sporting Committee has won its case against the online betting site Expekt.com at the Paris County Court.

€150,000 in compensation…that was the fine inflicted upon the betting company Expekt for using the Olympic symbols during the Turin Winter Olympics of 2006.

The Paris County Court found the company guilty of infringement and commercial free-riding for using the terms “Olympic Games” and the Olympic flame without authorisation.

During the Turin Olympics in February 2006, Expekt had used an advertising banner showing a skier speeding down a slope. The bookmaker had also used the colours of the Olympic Flame emblem, accompanied by the following slogan: “The 20th Winter Olympics have begun! The Turin Olympic Games are underway and all the events are covered by expekt.com. Come and join the challenge”.

The court considered that the website wanted to use the fame and image of the Olympic Games for advertising purposes.