Thank you very much for your question.
This bill was developed with two objectives in mind. One was to ensure the sponsorship partnership was secure for a period of time. We were also very much mindful of legitimate business, especially small business concerns, with this added protection.
It is why we've secured or safeguarded the prior use, prior to March 2, 2007, for existing businesses that use Olympic marks. If small businesses currently in operation in the Vancouver area have been using certain Olympic marks and have no intention of changing the way they will use their goods and services, this bill will not apply to those businesses. It means the waiving of the irreparable harm test will not be available to VANOC under those circumstances.
That's my answer to the impact on small businesses.
The reason we felt it was important to waive one of the three tests that go before a court to determine whether or not there is infringement is because the games are of very short duration. During that time, there could actually be a lot of damage done to the sponsors and to the organizers of the games.
Litigation takes a long time, and it is therefore important for the courts to actually be able to stop an offending activity immediately. Again, it is to be stopped for the duration of the games, and it will end at the end of the year that the games end as well. The waiving of irreparable harm is not taken lightly.