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Sports and Intellectual Property
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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
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Esports Charts becomes the official viewership analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19
Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, is pleased to announce a new partnership with StarLadder, a veteran tournament organizer.
The companies will partner for the new season of StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 — the legendary tournament series returns to the professional Counter-Strike scene after a six-year break.
As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event for a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.
“We’re proud to provide real-time viewership analytics for StarLadder StarSeries Season 19,” said Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts. “We welcome the return of StarLadder to the Tier‑1 Counter-Strike stage, adding healthy competition among tournament organizers. This season marks an exciting new chapter for a historic series, and our data will help capture audience engagement throughout the event, giving organizers, teams, and sponsors valuable insights into global viewership trends.”
StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 25 years, since hosting its first tournaments in 2001. The company has organized some of the industry’s most iconic events, including the StarLadder Berlin Major and The DOTA 2 Chongqing Major in 2019. Later this year, StarLadder will also host the Budapest Major 2025 — where it was earlier announced that Esports Charts will serve as the official viewership analytics partner.
The StarSeries tournament series, a key part of StarLadder’s brand, has helped launch the careers of numerous Counter-Strike stars. The last StarSeries event, StarSeries & i-League CS:GO Season 8, took place in October 2019 in Turkey. After a six-year hiatus, the series is finally set to make its return this fall with a brand-new season in Europe.
“StarLadder’s decision to partner with Esports Charts once again reflects our confidence in their leadership in esports viewership analytics. Their methodology sets the benchmark for accuracy and transparency — from tracking impressions with a true 30-second viewing window to providing insights that go far beyond raw numbers. Together, we are committed to giving brands and fans a deeper statistics of competitive Counter-Strike, powered by metrics that truly matter,” shared Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Head of Sales & Partnerships at StarLadder.
The StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 will run from September 18 to 21 in Budapest, Hungary, featuring a $500,000 prize pool. Eight teams will battle for the title: Natus Vincere, B8 Esports, Passion UA, 9INE, PARIVISION, OG, and Gentle Mates.
The post Esports Charts becomes the official viewership analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The 2025 editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate generated €191 million in economic impact for Barcelona and Catalonia as well as supporting an estimated 3,100 part time jobs, according to a study conducted by Equimore.
The two world leading business to business events which attracted attendees from 186 countries generating 121,000 overnight stays benefitted a wide range of local businesses including hotels, restaurants, transport services, venues and event production with the average daily spend of non-local attendees calculated at €449.
An input-output model was employed to estimate the total direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts resulting from Barcelona hosting ICE and iGB Affiliate 2025.
The analysis also evaluated the employment effects capturing the jobs created and supported as a result of hosting the exhibitions. Direct Impacts consists of expenditures associated with organising, exhibiting, and attending within the Barcelona – Catalonia economy. The indirect or secondary impacts corresponds to the knock-on effect of the event on the Barcelona -Catalonia economy including activity generated by the suppliers and service providers that benefited from the direct impact of the event. Induced impacts which corresponds to the activity generated by the consumption in the Barcelona-Catalonia economy of the wages received by people who worked directly or indirectly on the 2025 events.
Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “After many successful years in London, we made the decision to relocate to Barcelona with a clear ambition: to evolve, to grow, and to offer our global community an even greater platform for connection and innovation.
“The industry’s experience in Barcelona was shaped by several key factors that made ICE and iGB Affiliate 2025 truly exceptional. World-class exhibitors showcased an outstanding cross-section of global gaming innovation. The Clarion Gaming team, collaborating seamlessly with partners at Fira GranVia, demonstrated why they’re regarded as the best in the business.
“The results speak for themselves — a record attendance, exceptional exhibitor engagement, and an impressive €191 million in economic impact for the Barcelona and Catalonia economy boosted by a large international business audience. We can’t wait to see everyone again in January 2026.”
The post Study confirms €191 million economic impact of ICE and iGB Affiliate 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth
Join Jeff Gross and his legendary co-hosts on September 23 and September 30
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced it will live stream the final table action of two of the most prestigious events from the ongoing WSOP Online 2025 tournament series. The broadcasts will be available on GGPoker.tv, the brand’s official YouTube channel, and will feature the debut of poker legend Phil Hellmuth as a live GGPoker.tv broadcast host.
The first broadcast, on September 23, will showcase the high-stakes drama from the final table of the $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event, arguably online poker’s most important annual tournament. This landmark event will be co-hosted by frequent GGPoker anchor Jeff Gross and the 17-time WSOP bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth. Known for his “poker brat” persona and unparalleled tournament record, Hellmuth’s inclusion will provide viewers with an unprecedented look into the mind of one of poker’s greatest champions.
The action continues on September 30, with the final table of the $10,300 GGMillion$ High Rollers event. Joining Jeff Gross for this broadcast will be GGPoker Global Ambassador and fellow poker icon, Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu, with his engaging style and deep understanding of the game, will provide expert commentary and analysis, making this broadcast another must-watch for poker fans everywhere.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the WSOP Online 2025 action directly to our fans with these two live broadcasts,” said Paul Burke, Head of Public Relations at GGPoker. “Having Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu on air alongside Jeff Gross to break down the action will be a true treat. This will be more than just watching a final table; it’ll be a masterclass in poker strategy from two of the best to ever play the game.”
The post GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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