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Friday April 28, 2006

FIFA suffer setback over World Cup trademarks

KARLSRUHE (Germany): FIFA suffered a serious setback yesterday in their bid to protect their World Cup sponsors when Germany’s federal court said they had no right to the exclusive use of the name of the 2006 Finals.

The Karlsruhe-based court rejected the world football body’s attempts to secure a patent on the German-language slogan “Fussball WM 2006” (Football World Cup 2006).

The court based its decision on the fact that “Fussball WM 2006” referred to a sports event and not to a body such as FIFA.

The ruling applies to 860 products and services from a range of companies, although the case was brought by just two firms.

Although yesterday’s ruling covers products in Germany, it could have wider implications.

In theory, the ruling means that FIFA can no longer give sponsors assurances that other companies will not advertise with the slogans.

But a legal representative for one of the complainants, German confectionery maker Ferrero, said the decision had come too late for his client.

Products and advertising to tie in with the Finals which kick off in Germany in just over six weeks’ time have already been finalised, said Ferrero lawyer Goetz Jordan.

Lawyers for FIFA had argued that the body were solely funded by marketing revenue.

FIFA secretary-general Urs Linsi said many of FIFA’s 205 affiliated national football federations were financially supported by marketing revenue. – AFP

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