Juventus FC Secures Landmark Ruling Securing Trade Mark Rights For NFTs
Juventus FC (affectionately nicknamed the “Old Lady”) has won a noteworthy ruling in its case of trade mark infringement brought against an NFT producer, Blockeras s.r.l (“Blockeras”). The Rome Court of First Instance ruled1 that the unauthorized minting, advertising and sale of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”)2 can infringe the trade mark rights of the relevant owner.
Juventus FC sought a preliminary injunction from the court to prevent Blockeras from selling NFTs that made use of Juventus’ trade marks. The marks included the “Juventus” and “Juve” word marks as well as the design of the football club’s famous black and white jersey.3 Juventus filed proceedings against Blockeras accusing them of infringing the club’s registered marks in relation to the Blockeras NFTs which were linked to trading cards featuring former Juventus striker Christian “Bobo” Vieri.
NFTs have gained particular traction in sport where they can be used in relation to player cards, season tickets and on team/player social media profiles among other areas. The case is therefore a significant ruling in relation to trade mark rights and NFTs in sport but also in other industries due to its broader ramifications. It is the first known judgment by a European court to determine that NFTs which reproduce a third party’s trade marks without authorization from the rights owner amount to trade mark infringement and may warrant an injunction preventing further usage.
To continue reading or watching login or register here
Already a member? Sign in
Get access to all of the expert analysis and commentary at LawInSport including articles, webinars, conference videos and podcast transcripts. Find out more here.
- Tags: Commercial Law | Cryptoassets | Dispute Resolution | Football | Intellectual Property Rights | Italy | NFT | Sport | Trade Marks
Related Articles
- The importance of trade marks in football – controlling brand value & avoiding own goals
- How to choose, protect and enforce trade marks as a professional athlete: the view from Germany
- Athlete Brand Ambassadors: Do's And Don'ts for Sponsors
- EUIPO 2 : AC Milan 0 - AC Milan Fails To Register Its New Club Crest In EU Trade Mark Case
- Trade Marks In Sport: Ronaldinho & Henry Case Shows How To Raise ‘Bad Faith Objections’
- Freezing Orders: A Landmark New Judgement On NFTs From UK Courts
- Trademarked For Success – What Can Athletes Learn From Usain Bolt’s Legendary Victory Celebration?
- Protecting trademarks in keyword advertising in India - A guide for sports organisations
- The NCAA's New NIL Guidance: What Do You Need to Know
- A New Era of Transparency in Brazilian Sports? The Pact for the Sport Initiative By Sponsors
- A Guide To How Trade Marks Work In Formula One®
Written by
Simon Casinader
Simon Casinader is a partner in the London office at K&L Gates and had previously worked in their Melbourne office for over seven years. Simon is an intellectual property lawyer with extensive experience in protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights across multiple jurisdictions.
Niall Lavery
Niall Lavery is an associate at the London office of K&L Gates. He splits his practice into two primary areas, specifically, 1) antitrust, competition and trade regulation and 2) intellectual property and commercial law where the team’s cross-departmental approach allows him to provide a versatile and comprehensive approach to his work.
