European Union Court Upholds Lionel Messi Win Over Trademark Battle

Lionel Messi has won the right to register his name as a trademark to sell sports equipment and clothing.

The Argentine footballer’s application to trademark his name was made in 2011. His application was made to the European Union Office for Intellectual Property (EUOIP). The EUOIP brought to light that the brand name was visually and phonetically similar to a Spanish bicycle clothing brand. The respective names are “Messi” belonging to the Argentine footballer and “Massi” belonging to the Spanish bicycle clothing brand.

The EUOIP argued that the similarities of both would stir up confusion. Initially their stand was upheld, Lionel Messi then appealed this. In 2014, Messi’s appeal was dismissed. In an appeal made to the EU general court in 2018, the court disagreed with the initial ruling ultimately giving Lionel Messi rights to his trademark.

The court said “The football player’s fame counteracts the visual and phonetic similarities” with Massi. “Mr Messi is, in fact, a well-known public figure who can be seen on television and who is regularly discussed on television or on the radio,”

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