FIFA WORLD CUP 2010

For decades, FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football, has pursued a strict trademark policy; the organisation even has its own IP (Intellectual Property) department.

The following marks  FIFA WORLD CUP, WORLD CUP 2010, WC 2010,  SOUTH AFRICA 2010, AFRICA 2010 and SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP have been registered as a trademark in various different countries. 

The mascot and mascot’s name, ZAKUMI, are also a protected trademark. The wonderful depiction of the cup itself is also a protected trademark, as well as the official logo of the upcoming World Cup.

Official partner ADIDAS registered the name of the official ball as a trademark, the JABULANI.  In 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 the name of the official ball was also registered by ADIDAS. The names were respectively the FEVERNOVA, ROTEIRO, TEAMGEIST and EUROPASS.

It is remarkable that names like WORLD CUP 2010 and WC 2010 can simply be registered as a trademark because they appear to possess hardly any or no distinctive qualities whatsoever.  A case concerning the trademark EURO 2008 was even brought before the European Trademarks Office. It ultimately determined that EURO 2008 was sufficiently distinctive and could be used as a trademark. In 2006 the highest court in Germany decided that the mark FUSSBALL WM 2006 was insufficiently distinctive to be used as a trademark and refused registration.

For the entrepreneurs among us, we point out that FIFA thinks ahead and has already applied for trademark protection for the marks 2014, WC 2014, WM 2014 and BRAZIL 2014.

This also applies to the marks SPAIN PORTUGAL 2018, HOLLAND BELGIUM 2018 and ENGLAND 2018. It is an interesting fact that trademark protection for the last-mentioned mark ENGLAND 2018 was applied for one day earlier than for the other two marks. A coincidence perhaps? 

Autor: Friso Onderdelinden

E-mail: onderdelinden@octrooibureau.nl