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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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TrueLayer, Europe’s leading Pay by Bank network, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Zimpler, the fastest growing Pay by Bank network in the Nordics. The acquisition will bring together two of Europe’s most innovative Pay by Bank providers, further strengthening TrueLayer as a formidable force in the European payments industry.
This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Pay by Bank across Europe. By expanding TrueLayer’s pan-European network and deep expertise in payment technology with Zimpler’s strong position in the Nordic market, TrueLayer will be uniquely positioned to further accelerate the shift from legacy card payments to smarter, faster, and more secure payments via Pay by Bank.
The acquisition is another clear step forward for TrueLayer in its mission to build a powerful alternative to legacy payments in Europe, fostering greater competition, innovation and value for businesses and their consumers.
With some of the highest adoption rates of account-to-account (A2A) payments anywhere in the world, the Nordic region has been a proving ground for Pay by Bank. By acquiring Zimpler, TrueLayer will have more than 20 million users and will add coverage across key markets such as Sweden, Finland, and will add additional A2A capabilities through the Swish payment rail integration. This significantly strengthens TrueLayer’s pan-European network, accelerating the shift to smarter, safer, and more cost-effective payments.
Founded in 2012 by Johan Friis and Kristofer Ekman Sinclair, Zimpler has grown rapidly to become a Pay by Bank leader in the Nordics. TrueLayer is proud to welcome Zimpler’s founders and shareholders on this journey – joining the likes of Stripe, Northzone, and Tiger Global in backing its mission to transform the way the world pays.
“I am excited to welcome the Zimpler team to TrueLayer,” said Francesco Simoneschi, Co-founder and CEO of TrueLayer. “We’ve long admired their progress, and we’re excited to add such an incredible group of builders and payment experts to the TrueLayer team We’re not just expanding our footprint in the Nordics – we’re combining talent, technology, and scale to accelerate Pay by Bank adoption across the continent, and further strengthening Pay by Bank as a force of disruption that is changing how the world pays.”
“Joining forces with TrueLayer is a fantastic opportunity to build the leading Pay by Bank provider in Europe” said Johan Strand, CEO of Zimpler. “TrueLayer has a proven track record of innovation and a powerful network. Our combined strengths will allow us to offer an even more compelling proposition to the market. Joining TrueLayer will enable us to reach new heights and drive the next wave of growth in the industry. At the same time, we remain firmly anchored in Sweden, with our local licence and expertise ensuring continuity for our customers.”
The post TrueLayer to Acquire Zimpler, Creating a European Pay by Bank Powerhouse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Sportradar Group AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) has been granted a gaming-related vendor license from the United Arab Emirates’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), an independent entity of the UAE Federal Government with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities.
The license, operational with immediate effect, affords Sportradar the opportunity to provide its products and services to licensed operators.
Sportradar looks forward to bringing its 20+ year expertise and proprietary sports technology to operators and clients in the region.
The post SPORTRADAR AWARDED UNITED ARAB EMIRATES LICENSE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Why Today’s Affiliate Ecosystem Demands an Upgrade
The global iGaming landscape, and especially the crypto-casino sector, is undergoing explosive growth. Data from Yield Sec shows that the total gross profit of crypto casinos in 2024 reached approximately $81.4 billion — a three- to fourfold increase compared to two years before.
In parallel, the affiliate marketing market is also seeing significant expansion. According to SOFTSWISS, revenue generated via crypto affiliate services doubled in the first half of 2024 versus the same period in 2023. The upward trend continues in 2025: transaction activity is growing, and the number of engaged users in the crypto iGaming space keeps rising month after month.
Yet, most traditional crypto casino affiliate programs still rely on outdated models — CPA and RevShare — that come with notable drawbacks: limited flexibility, insufficient analytical transparency, delayed reward distribution, and negative carryover issues.
All these factors highlight the need for a new kind of affiliate ecosystem — transparent, mutually beneficial, and focused on long-term value. It is in this context that the Qzino affiliate program launches, redefining the role of affiliates in the crypto-iGaming industry.
Next-Generation Crypto iGaming Experience with Qzino
Qzino is a crypto-iGaming platform set to launch in fall 2025 (Explore the Qzino launch). The platform will feature over 10,000 games — from global hits to in-house titles — along with sports and esports betting powered by AI analytics, its own token,Qzino profit sharing model, provably fair crypto casino mechanisms, and tokenized affiliate rewards.
The Qzino profit sharing model is a core innovation — distributing 50% of the revenue daily among token holders. They receive daily passive income, ensuring long-term motivation to stay connected to the platform and benefit from its growth.
Behind the project stands a team of over 100 professionals with proven experience in building platforms ranked among the top-10 global crypto casinos. The platform operates under an official Anjouan Gambling License and utilizes provably fair crypto casino technology.
Qzino Crypto Affiliate Program — Launch Roadmap with Rewards
The Qzino affiliate program is structured in multiple phases, ensuring sub-affiliate earnings, community expansion, and transparent analytics at every stage:
- Stage 1: Mini App — current phase. An initial opportunity to invite users through free-to-play mechanics with real value, no deposit, and no complex registration. All referred users are permanently linked to the affiliate and automatically transferred to the full Web3 platform after launch — continuing to generate revenue.
- Stage 2: Platform launch & farming season — Fall 2025. The full platform goes live with gamified farming where users earn points for every bet. Affiliates receive dual rewards — a share of the platform’s profit and points for an upcoming airdrop, later converted into tokens.
- Stage 3: TGE, Airdrop & Scaling — at this stage, tokenized affiliate rewards and daily profit sharing are launched. Affiliates benefit from the growth of lifetime revenue share, additional sub-affiliate earnings, and the advantages of participating in the highest-paying affiliate program in gambling, with up to 50% revenue share.
How Qzino Offers Daily Profit Sharing and Lifetime Revenue Share for Affiliates
The Qzino affiliate program offers affiliates not just commissions, but a multi-tiered earning system across all stages:
- Revenue from each user — affiliates earn up to 50% revenue of the income generated by their referrals;
- Airdrop points — every user activity brings affiliates points later converted into tokens;
- Qzino tokens — provide access to the Qzino profit sharing model with daily profit sharing and asset growth potential;
- Sub-affiliate networks — affiliates can build their own network by inviting other partners and earning from their activity — creating long-term passive income in crypto affiliate partnerships.
Qzino crypto casino provides personal support at all collaboration stages, regular contests, challenges, exclusive drops and bonuses for active partners. The program is a crypto affiliate worldwide — open globally with no geographic restrictions.
All of this is managed in a dedicated affiliate dashboard, providing real-time commission tracking, so affiliates can monitor their earnings and activity. The affiliate dashboard ensures data transparency, accessibility, and automatic updates.
Exclusive Early Affiliate Rewards with Qzino Crypto Casino
Currently, the Qzino platform and affiliate program are in the Pre-Launch phase via MiniApp on Telegram — a unique moment for early affiliates.
The potential audience has not yet been distributed among partners, and most users are still available for acquisition. This gives affiliates the opportunity to build their own referral base using the free MiniApp mechanics. Most importantly, all referred users are automatically transferred to the full Web3 platform after launch and remain permanently linked to the affiliate.
The Next Step for the Crypto iGaming Industry
The Qzino affiliate program offers up to 50% revenue share, tokenized affiliate rewards, a long-term profit-sharing model, and scalable income through sub-affiliate earnings. Unlike traditional systems, Qzino doesn’t rely on outdated models — it establishes a new industry standard where partnership means real involvement in the project’s growth and profits, from early MiniApp participation to becoming a true co-owner of the ecosystem.
Qzino: join as a partner — emerge as a co-owner.
Visit the official website, apply now, and join the Qzino Affiliate Program — be part of the next generation of transparent, profit-sharing partnerships.
Contacts
Website: https://qzino.com
Email: [email protected]
X (Twitter): https://x.com/qzino_official
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