Restricted Activities and Use of Intellectual Property
As restaurants and businesses gear up to welcome thousands of football fans for the 2026 World Cup, it’s crucial to understand FIFA’s guidelines on the use of intellectual property (IP). Key IP assets include the FIFA World Cup trophy, official emblems for male and female tournaments, and other registered symbols.
Prohibited Marketing Activities
According to FIFA’s official website, certain marketing activities are strictly prohibited. These include parasitic advertising, which aims to gain an advantage by using FIFA’s IP without authorization. Additionally, businesses without official sponsorship are not allowed to exploit the tournament’s popularity for free publicity, especially around stadiums.
Prohibited Products and Actions
Products such as clothing, toys, balls, bags, footwear, and stationery containing FIFA’s IP without authorization are also banned. FIFA collaborates with customs and law enforcement worldwide to combat counterfeiting. If unauthorized reproduction of FIFA’s IP is reported, necessary actions will be taken to stop such activities.
Recommendations for Businesses During the 2026 World Cup
Participating in the 2026 World Cup presents a business opportunity. However, businesses must avoid misusing FIFA’s IP. The FIFA Guidelines on Intellectual Property recommend using generic football or country-related images and terms not subject to IP protection.
- Sponsorship Claims: Businesses cannot present themselves as official sponsors or claim to have official licenses without proper authorization.
- Commercial Use of Official Content: Sharing content from FIFA’s official social media accounts for commercial purposes is discouraged.
- Fan Content Sharing: Fans can freely share content with FIFA’s IP, but businesses should avoid using elements with IP. This includes not posting photos or videos with the official logo and tagging official accounts to attract attention from other businesses and brands.
- Business Names and Decorations: Using FIFA’s name as a business name without authorization is prohibited. However, generic football terms can be part of the decorations.
Respecting FIFA’s IP is essential for businesses to avoid sanctions and maintain their reputation while capitalizing on the influx of domestic and foreign football fans.
Key Questions and Answers
- Can businesses use FIFA’s official logos and images? Businesses should avoid using FIFA’s official logos and images on websites, promotional materials, or domain names without proper authorization.
- What marketing activities are prohibited? Parasitic advertising and exploiting the tournament’s popularity for free publicity without official sponsorship are prohibited.
- What products containing FIFA’s IP are banned? Products like clothing, toys, and stationery with unauthorized use of FIFA’s IP are banned.
- How can businesses promote themselves during the World Cup? Businesses can use generic football or country-related images and terms not subject to IP protection. They cannot claim official sponsorship without authorization.
- Can businesses share content from FIFA’s official social media accounts? Sharing such content for commercial purposes is discouraged.
