Nintendo Loses Trademark Battle to Costa Rican Supermarket Over Super Mario Name

Nintendo faces an unexpected setback in a trademark dispute. A Costa Rican supermarket, "Súper Mario," successfully defended its trademark against the gaming giant. The court ruled in favor of the supermarket, acknowledging that the name was a genuine combination of its business type and the owner's son's name, Mario.

The legal battle began in 2024 when Nintendo challenged the supermarket's trademark renewal, arguing infringement on their globally recognized "Super Mario" brand. The supermarket's legal team, however, successfully countered this claim by proving the name's innocent usage. They demonstrated that the name wasn't intended to capitalize on Nintendo's intellectual property.

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The supermarket's owner, Charito, expressed immense gratitude to his legal advisor, Jose Edgardo Jimenez Blanco, for successfully navigating the complex legal challenge. The outcome underscores the difficulties faced by global brands in protecting their trademarks against smaller businesses with legitimate claims to similar names.

While Nintendo holds exclusive rights to the "Super Mario" trademark in many countries across various product categories, this case highlights the unforeseen complexities of trademark law. Even powerful entities like Nintendo can face legal hurdles in safeguarding their intellectual property. The ruling serves as a cautionary tale for global brands regarding the nuances of trademark protection in diverse legal jurisdictions.