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Sports and Intellectual Property

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Sports and Intellectual PropertyReading Time: 4 minutes

 

Intellectual Property (IP) law has a vast domain, and that even stretches to include the world of sports.

 

While at first this may seem strange, you only need to think for a moment about all of the creative aspects that go into sports. There’s actually a great deal of protectable intellectual property in many different areas.

To go over a few of the ways that intellectual property matters in sports, we’ll touch upon four of the most notable areas: technology, branding, design and licenses/sponsorships.

Technology

Sports technologists are constantly developing better sports equipment with creative and innovative designs and concepts to enhance performance and make the products safer, better and more effective.

From swimsuits to tennis rackets, there is always something that can be improved with cutting-edge ideas that qualify for IP protection, spurring inventors to learn how to patent an idea and ensure the rights to their ingenuity.

As long as the idea that a technologist introduces is truly novel and revolutionary, it is just as eligible for a patent as inventions in other fields.

Previous innovations that were rewarded with patents include:

  • Progressive replacement and upgrades of materials (wood/rubber/twine to complex materials with alloys and polymers)
  • Sleeker surfboards
  • More efficient and comfortable gloves for goalkeepers
  • Aquatic wheelchairs
  • Sports drinks and supplements

Having patents as such a significant part of athletics is one of the incentives for creative minds to continuously improve equipment and make for a better, more efficient performance by competitive players.

Branding

While patents are one of the more intense and official aspects of intellectual property, other forms of protection like trademarks for elements of brandings are also applicable to the world of sports.

J.D. Houvener, a New York patent attorney, stresses the importance of IP law outside of patents:

“While I’m obviously an advocate for patents and find that to be one of the most exciting parts of entrepreneurship, I also can’t emphasize the importance of other IP law enough. Trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets are all major parts of protecting your brand and creative property, so they deserve some attention as well.”

Brands create value for a particular business and help consumers distinguish between products based on reputation and recognition. Successful branding can lead to customer loyalty and even premium pricing, especially in terms of sponsorship deals and merchandising.

Some famous examples of branding in the sports industry include:

  • Recognized names like “Wilson” or “Sketchers”
  • Recognized symbols like the Nike swoosh or the Adidas stripes
  • Recognized organizations like the NBA in the U.S. or Manchester United in the U.K.
  • Recognized sponsors at major events like the FIFA World Cup or the Olympic Games
  • Recognized nicknames/poses/slogans of famous athletes like Usain Bolt’s “to di world”

Just like in any other industry, trademarks can help athletes, sports organizations and athletic companies protect what makes their brand unique and recognizable.

Design

Much like with branding, there is also a heavy importance on protecting original design ideas in the world of sports.

Design in athletics can range from a variety of different images and aesthetics that impact the appearance and style of things like shoes, bags, swimsuits and more. The attractive and appealing aspects of sportswear and gear are just as important as other areas of fashion and equipment, particularly when it comes to commercial value.

It all boils down to competition, much like the rest of the global marketplace. A product with a sleek and attractive design will be more marketable than a product of equal function and quality that is less exciting or appealing.

For this reason, companies race to claim and invest in new and creative designs that mirror trends in consumer taste and interest so that they can obtain intellectual property rights over them.

Plus, aside from aesthetic purposes, designs can also play a role in enhancing performance. Lighter, more durable and more comfortable designs and products will win consumers over when they make their decisions, and having a right to those successful designs makes an enormous difference in sales and profit.

Licenses & Sponsorships

Lastly, sports organizations can significantly boost income potential through licensing patents, trademarks and copyrights while still maintaining overall ownership.

Ultimately, this means the original owner of the protection still has claim to that patent, trademark or copyright, but that they sold the rights to another party, giving them permission to produce the idea in exchange for a price.

A trademark license defines the legal relationship between the trademark owner and a producer. The licensee will manufacture and distribute the product with the trademarked concept (such as a name or logo) while the licensor will oversee product quality to uphold the trademark’s reputation.

A technology license is a similar concept that pertains more to equipment-related ideas. Companies who license out their technologies can enjoy a boost in income from wider production and distribution while companies who license in can produce and sell the latest equipment development and maintain competitive drive.

Sponsorship gives a marketing opportunity to companies hoping to capitalize off major sporting events like FIFA World Cup. Sponsors typically gain the rights to brand association, media exposure and other perks depending on their level of sponsorship and the event in question.

In Summary

When most people think of sports, they likely think of the players and the game before anything else. That said, there are still many other areas that are crucial parts of the athletic industry, and intellectual property is a big deal to those areas.

With innovative technology for gear and equipment, branding for teams and companies, original designs for new materials and licenses/sponsorships, the need for IP law is never-ending.

For more great content on sports and gaming, be sure to keep up with our other regular postings!

 

Article written by: Katherine Lutz. A graduate of Florida State University, Katherine (Tori) Lutz is a Florida native currently living in Brooklyn, New York. Since graduating, she has made a career out of freelance work and published through a variety of outlets in many industries.

 


Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Sports and Intellectual Property

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Red Rake Gaming releases Super 60 Stars, the newest slot in its successful Super series

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Red Rake Gaming has released Super 60 Stars, the latest addition to its acclaimed Super series, now available to all partner operators.

This new release retains the fast-paced gameplay and wide variety of features that have made the series one of the most popular in the iGaming industry, while also introducing an exclusive new addition that adds even more excitement to the game.

The new feature in Super 60 Stars is the “Super 60 Stars” symbol, which can appear anywhere on the reels and trigger the brand-new “Super 60 Gold X” minigame. In this minigame, players can land the “Super X” symbol to multiply the value of the silver coins and accumulate big wins through the gold coins. On top of that, the “Super 60 Coins” system brings the familiar “Minor, Major and Grand” prizes, offering great win potential.

The game also includes some of the most successful features from previous titles in the series, such as “Sticky Wins” and progressive multipliers triggered by the “Super 25 Stars Wild” symbol, as well as the “Crystallize Symbols” and “Lucky Multipliers”, with multipliers of up to x50, and the «Star Fusion Minigame», which merges symbols for bigger rewards.

Other popular features also make a return, including the “Super 10 Stars Mini-Slot” and the “Frenzy Wheel Minigame”, with multipliers of up to x100, plus expanding Wilds with Respins, the “Wheel Bonus”, and “Free Spins”.

With its polished design, fast-paced gameplay and broad variety of features, Super 60 Stars strengthens the appeal of an already established series and stands out as a key release for operators looking to offer high-performing, differentiated content to their players.

Now available across all Red Rake Gaming partner casinos, as well as through its renowned tournament tool.

For additional information please contact: [email protected]

The post Red Rake Gaming releases Super 60 Stars, the newest slot in its successful Super series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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GAMSTOP reports record registrations in 2025

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  • 44% increase in under 25s choosing to self-exclude from gambling
  • Younger consumers choosing six-month exclusion to manage their gambling
  • New chair Chris Pond to take up post in September

GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, has reported a 19% increase in registrations in 2025, with monthly registrations breaking all previous records twice in successive months.

The increase in registrations has been driven by younger consumers, aged 16-24, with self-exclusions increasing by 44% year-on-year in the first six months of the year. Four out of ten are choosing to exclude for the minimum six-month period, up from 36% in the previous year which could mean they are using GAMSTOP as a flexible, preventative tool to manage their gambling, though more research is needed to understand patterns of behaviour.

With self-exclusion at record levels, the Gamstop Group has announced its new chair will be Chris Pond, who replaces the outgoing Chair Jenny Watson CBE in September after her seven-year stint. Mr Pond is highly experienced in financial services and has worked across the public, private and non-profit sectors.

He is currently Chair of the Money and Mental Health Advisory Board and the Financial Services Consumer Panel at the Financial Conduct Authority. He has previously chaired the Financial Inclusion Commission, served as the CEO of two national charities and was a Work and Pensions Minister during his eight years as a Member of Parliament.

Since GAMSTOP’S inception in April 2018, nearly 600,000 vulnerable consumers have registered for the service and self-exclusion is continuing to increase at record rates. In April 2025, a record 10,281 consumers registered with GAMSTOP – the first time the monthly figure had ever topped 10,000 –and Monday April 7th, two days after the Grand National, was the busiest ever day with 437 registrations. However, the monthly record was eclipsed in May, with 10,344 new registrations.

The 2025 data reveals a growing preference for six-month exclusions across all age groups, a 29% year-on-year increase. However, the maximum five-year exclusion remains the most popular amongst all age groups, except under-25s and currently accounts for nearly one in two of all exclusions (47%). Since 2018, 53% of all registrations have been for the maximum five-year period.

GAMSTOP introduced a new ‘5 years with auto-renewal’ exclusion in December 2024 for vulnerable consumers looking to extend their exclusion from gambling websites and apps. The new 5 -year auto-renewal option was developed in direct response to feedback from users and the take-up has been high, with nearly half of those registering for a five-year exclusion choosing this option.

New registrations – H1 2025

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
6 months 39% 27% 23% 21% 22%
1 year 26% 26% 23% 22% 22%
5 years 35% 47% 54% 57% 56%

 

Registrations – all time

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
6 months 33% 23% 20% 20% 20%
1 year 26% 23% 22% 21% 22%
5 years 41% 54% 58% 59% 58%

 

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said:Our data shows a significant spike in the number of younger consumers who are GAMstopping to manage their gambling, and this has driven the record registrations in 2025. They are increasingly choosing six-month exclusions, which suggests that GAMSTOP is being used as a tool to allow them a break from gambling. We have worked very hard to increase awareness of GAMSTOP amongst younger consumers and to destigmatise the use of self-exclusion. We want them to realise that GAMSTOP can be used as a preventative tool alongside other solutions, giving them breathing space to take back control”.

 

The post GAMSTOP reports record registrations in 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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STAKE SIGN FOOTBALL LEGEND PATRICE EVRA AS GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

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Betting giants, Stake has today confirmed that former Manchester United and Juventus legend, Patrice Evra, has signed a deal to become a Global Ambassador for the brand.

Evra is the latest football legend to partner with Stake, joining fellow Premier League icon, Sergio Aguero as part of the Stake family. The former left-back enjoyed a trophy laden career, winning 17 major titles, including the UEFA Champions League, and five Premier League titles as part of an iconic Manchester United squad.

Evra’s larger than life personality has seen him remain a source of great entertainment since his retirement. Now considered a respected pundit, Evra has become known for his strong opinions and sharp wit.

Patrice Evra commented:“I am so excited to be working with Stake, and joining the family. They are such a fun and exciting brand who are at the top of their game, and to be joining their team of iconic Ambassadors is a privilege.

“I am a massive MMA fan, and Stake is a brand that everyone thinks of when it comes to the sport. To be on the same team as MMA Champions is great, and also to have a former rival from Manchester City, Sergio Aguero, now on my team, is fantastic.”

Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer at Stake, said: “Patrice is a footballing icon and one of the best players to ever play in his position. As much as his incredible credentials, we love his eccentric, larger than life personality and his strong opinions on the beautiful game. We see great synergy between Patrice and the Stake brand, and are really looking forward to what will be a great partnership.”

 

The post STAKE SIGN FOOTBALL LEGEND PATRICE EVRA AS GLOBAL AMBASSADOR appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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