Maradona's Heirs Win Trademark Battle

The heirs of Diego Maradona, who passed away three years ago, have won their legal battle over the use of the Argentine football star's name after the second-highest court in Europe ruled that the Argentine company "Satvika," owned by his former lawyer, does not have the right to trademark ownership. Maradona obtained a trademark in his name for clothing, footwear, hospitality services, and information technology from the European Union in 2008. Following his death in 2020, Satvika requested the EU patent office to transfer the trademark to the company based on a document issued in 2015 by Maradona that allowed Satvika to commercially use the trademark and another undated agreement. Subsequently, Maradona's heirs requested the patent office to cancel the deal recorded in its records. The EU patent office stated in a decision made last year that Satvika did not provide documentation to substantiate the transfer of the trademark to the company. Satvika then brought its case before the General Court in Luxembourg, which is the second-highest court in Europe. The judges stated that "the documents submitted by that company do not officially justify the transfer of the trademark in its favor under a contract signed between the parties (Satvika and Maradona)." They added, "Furthermore, as Maradona passed away before the request to register the transfer of ownership of the trademark was filed, Satvika could not remedy the irregularities found. It could not provide any other documents." Satvika has the option to appeal to the European Court of Justice, the highest court in Europe.