European Court Declines Transfer of Maradona's Trademark to Former Lawyer's Company, Sattvica; Heirs Retain Rights

Maradona’s Trademark Protected Following Courts Decision That Sattvica did not Provide Sufficient Proof to Justify Assignment of Trademark, Leaving Open the Possibility for an Appeal to the EU Court of Justice.

Diego Maradona, late soccer star, had registered his name as a trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in 2008 for a variety of products including clothing, footwear, and headgear.
After Maradona's death in November 2020, Sattvica, an Argentine company owned by his former lawyer, requested the EUIPO to register a transfer of the trademark based on two documents allegedly issued by Maradona.
Maradona's heirs successfully petitioned to have the registered transfer canceled; in response, Sattvica appealed to the European Union's General Court to have the decision annulled.
The General Court declined Sattvica's plea, justified by the inadequacy of the documents presented by the company as supporting evidence for the trademark's transfer.
Despite the ruling, Sattvica retains the right to further appeal the decision to the Europe's highest court, the EU Court of Justice.