I’ve noticed in a few recent McDonalds ads that there is a number at the bottom of the screen, the format is somthing like this: 36USCxxxxxx It’s never there long enough for me to write it down, but the format looks very similar to one I’ve seen used when refering to a particular law.
What is this code? why do they put it on the bottom of the screen? is it a law? what is that particular law all about?
USC is the common abbreviation for the United States Code, which is the federal statutory law. The Code is divided into categories, known as titles, and the individual provisions within the titles are called sections. When citing a federal statute, the usual format is:
[title number] USC [section number]
You appear to be seeing a citation to a federal law on the commercials. Title 36 of the USC addresses the organization of certain benevolent entities, like the American Red Cross and various veterans’ associations. Perhaps the commercials which are displaying this citation are soliciting donations for the Red Cross?
The code that appears on the commercials is 36USC220506, which I believe has to do with the Olympics. The Olympic rings appear in these commercials, which state McDonalds is a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team.
The United States Code title 36, section 220506 states that the U.S. Olympic Commitee has the exclusive right to various Olympic-related logos, including the Olympic rings.
220506 is a codification (really a recodification!) of the granting of the United States Olympic Committee the exclusive right to use the word Olympic, along with others, and to display the interlocking rings. Of course, the Committee is permitted to temporarily give “contributors and suppliers of goods or services” the right to do so also.
It’s nothing that isn’t in the Lanham Act, but I assume that these marks are so darn attractive that this was necessary too. In my haste to post this first, I haven’t done the research to determine why this is necessary. Anyone else?
Monk
Grr. I hit what I thought was submit but was really preview. Then I went to get a Twinkie. Sniff.
Still, anyone know why it’s necessary?
Just for completeness…
For some odd reason, that section of the code isn’t listed at either Findlaw or the Cornell Law server. The House server has it though.
talk abut efficaint ignorence fighting… damn guys (and gals:)