FIFA dealt setback in copyright protection case

FIFA was dealt a blow in a copyright protection case involving the slogan Fussball WM 2006 in what the worldwide football. The soccer’s world governing body warns the decision could have a major impact on sporting events.
 
After a challenge from confectionary firm Ferrero, the German Federal Supreme Court revoked protection of Fussball WM 2006. The ruling means FIFA can no longer restrict the use of the phrase to its official partners.
 
“Safeguarding the exclusive rights of our partners is an essential requirement for this, the world’s largest privately financed sports event, which generates costs of more than EUR 600 million for FIFA alone,” FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi said.
 
“Companies that seek to profit from the FIFA World Cup without making a contribution jeopardise the financing of the event through commercial partnerships.
Protecting our trademarks is therefore of fundamental importance to developing football as a whole. Our trademarks are still protected but today's decision does not augur well for the growth of our sport or for organisers of major sports events.”
 
No judgment was passed on the copyright issues surrounding the ‘WM 2006’ mark. The federal patent court had ruled that ‘WM 2006’ was ‘protectable’ for a wide range of products and services for FIFA, including the confectionery category.
 
The federal supreme court chose not to pass any definitive decision and referred the matter back to the patent court, where Ferrero’s claim will be decided whether or not trademark protection will be granted in the confectionery category, as well as other goods and services categories that already have been confirmed.
 
The protection, granted in August 2005, will be in force until the matter has been decided.
 
Regardless of the decision, the ‘WM 2006’ mark will continue to be registered as FIFA’s ‘community trademark’ in Europe and, as such, will be protected in Germany.
 
English football clubs team with credit provider for World Cup giveaways
 
Credit provider Creation Financial Services Ltd is working in conjunction with three English football clubs in a promotion that could score credit cardholders FIFA World Cup tickets.
 
English clubs Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhampton Wanders and West Bromwich Albion are working with the credit provider to provide incentives for new or existing cardholders.
 
Tickets to a World Cup semi-final and the England-Paraguay matches, as well as 1966 and 2006 signed England shirts are offered to build card bases and drive sales in a joint promotion with MasterCard, Creation’s credit partner.
 
To endorse the retail appeal of this campaign, JJB, another of Creation’s retail partner’s have also signed up for the promotion.
 
“It is our ability to tailor strategies originally developed for the retail sector that set Creation apart from other more traditional financial services providers for the football market,” said Stephen Hunt, Managing Director of Creation’s Card and Loyalty Unit comments. “We are using our skills in marketing to promote this campaign through direct mail and SMS technology and we are already witnessing a great response from the fans.”
 
Steve Coakley, Commercial Manager at Sheffield Wednesday said the opportunity to build their base through innovative retail marketing ideas was welcomed.
 
“Football clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday now look to have a strong retail focus and need to maximise the techniques that retailers have successfully employed for building loyalty and sales,” Coakley said. “In close partnership with Creation, the World Cup campaign is just one of many initiatives that demonstrate the synergies that exist between the football and retail markets.”

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.