Jamaica has moved to protect the domains of Olympic winners.

The action, taken by the Jamaica intellectual property office (JIPO), follows similar measures taken by China, which last week announced that it would block attempted Internet registrations of Olympic winners.

JIPO has ordered the block as a means of securing the property rights of Jamaican Olympians - Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown - on a level that will be recognised internationally.

Carol Simpson, executive director of the government copyright right body, told The Gleaner yesterday that the organisation would block sales from .com domains, which are not owned by the Jamaican athletes.

After searching online for sites using the names of Jamaica's athletes, Sedo.com a British company, was found to be auctioning the domain name of UsainBolt.com, but that has now been cancelled.

"Usually you do have these Cyber squatters who will take advantage of persons like our athletes, who have reached a level of international recognition," Simpson said.