Cases of IPR ON SPORTS
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in sports cover a broad range
of legal cases involving copyrights, trademarks, patents, and
design rights. Here are some notable examples:
Trademark
Infringement in
Team Names and
Logos
• Example: Dallas Cowboys
Cheerleaders v. Pussycat Cinema
(1979) – The Dallas Cowboys
Cheerleaders sued a movie theater
for using their uniform design in a
film without permission, leading to
a landmark decision that
recognized the importance of
trademarks in sports branding.
• Example: Washington Football Team – Formerly known as the
Washington Redskins, the team faced legal battles over its name
and logo, with claims that the term “Redskins” was offensive.
Eventually, they changed the name in 2020 due to public
pressure and potential IP issues.
Broadcasting Rights and
Copyright Violations
• Example: Indian Premier League (IPL) – Several cases have
arisen around IPL broadcasting rights, especially related to live
streaming and unauthorized broadcasting. The Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI) actively enforces broadcasting rights
to protect its lucrative media contracts.
• Example: National Football League (NFL) v. YouTube – The NFL
has taken action against online platforms that stream NFL
games without authorization, highlighting the importance of
licensing agreements and IP protection in digital broadcasting.
Player Image Rights
• Example: Cristiano Ronaldo v. Various Advertisers – Ronaldo has
frequently defended his image rights, suing companies that use
his likeness without permission. His image rights are managed
as part of his commercial portfolio, demonstrating the
importance of IP in a player’s brand.
• Example: Michael Jordan v. Jewel Food Stores – Jordan sued a
supermarket for using his name in an advertisement without
permission. This case underscored the legal significance of
personal branding and image rights in sports.
Design Patents and
Equipment Innovations
• Example: Nike v. Adidas – Nike and Adidas have long been
engaged in patent battles over technology in their athletic
footwear. Disputes have included patents on shoe designs,
cushioning technology, and other innovations, showcasing the
importance of patents in sports equipment.
• Example: Wilson Sporting Goods – The company holds various
patents on tennis rackets, footballs, and other equipment, and
actively enforces these patents to prevent unauthorized copying
by competitors.
Merchandising and
Licensing Rights
• Real Madrid v. Merchandising Companies – Real Madrid sued
several companies for selling unauthorized merchandise using
their name and logo. The case illustrated the value of licensing
in sports, where teams generate significant revenue from
merchandise sales.
• Example: Olympic Committee v. Unauthorized Sellers – The
International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken action against
companies selling unauthorized Olympic merchandise,
protecting use of the Olympic rings and symbols.
Anti-Ambush Marketing
• Example: FIFA World Cup – FIFA frequently enforces strict IP
laws during World Cups, preventing non-sponsors from using
the World Cup branding. They have taken action against
companies for ambush marketing, where brands attempt to
associate themselves with the event without sponsorship.
• Example: London 2012 Olympics – The organizers of the London
Olympics enforced “clean zones” around Olympic venues to
prevent non-sponsors from advertising in these areas,
protecting the exclusivity of their sponsorship agreements.
Conclusion
• These cases reflect the importance of IPR in maintaining the
commercial integrity of sports brands, athletes’ rights,
broadcasting agreements, and innovative equipment.
