Costa Rican Grocery Store Wins Trademark Dispute Against Nintendo

The 52-year-old 'Super Mario' supermarket successfully defended its name after Nintendo's legal challenge was rejected by Costa Rica's National Register.

Nintendo attempted to block the trademark renewal of the 'Super Mario' supermarket in Costa Rica, claiming global ownership of the name.
The supermarket, founded in 1973 by Don José Mario Alfaro González, predates Nintendo's use of the Super Mario name by over a decade.
Costa Rica's National Register ruled in favor of the supermarket, citing that Nintendo's trademark does not cover grocery stores.
The store's branding showed no attempt to associate itself with Nintendo's iconic character, which further supported the decision.
The legal victory has brought significant attention to the small business, with its owners celebrating the outcome publicly.