FC Barcelona presented trademark application

Three months ago, Spanish Soccer Club Barcelona, presented to the Ecuadorian Institute of Intellectual Property (IEPI for its Spanish acronym) an application for the registration of its brand and logo in Ecuador, due to the similarity between the Catalan team and Barcelona Sporting Club (BSC).

Andrés Ycaza, IEPI’s director said a month after this request, that the Ecuadorian team presented its opposition to avoid that a foreign company to register a brand in Ecuador, affecting its rights.

Despite stating that in trademark issues “the firs that comes is the first on being served,” the national director of Intellectual Property, Juan Fernando Salazar, indicates that the issue continues in process.

Salazar said that they must take into account that the brand BSC has 88 years of existence in the country, while Antonio Noboa,  president of the team said he is really surprised by the reaction of the Spanish club, but each one has its strategy towards  its own brands.

“In any case, we will defend the hegemony and history of Barcelona Sporting Club. We will not let this affect our institution. ”

At this time the trademark application is on trial; in this phase is where the parties must submit the necessary documentation as The process is similar to an  administrative complaint.