Nintendo Loses Trademark Battle to Costa Rican Supermarket Over Super Mario Name

A Costa Rican supermarket, "Súper Mario," has surprisingly won a trademark battle against Nintendo over the use of the name. The supermarket successfully argued that "Súper Mario" was a legitimate combination of its business type and its manager's first name, Mario. The dispute began in 2024 when Nintendo challenged the supermarket's trademark renewal, claiming infringement on their globally recognized Super Mario brand.

The supermarket's legal team, led by advisor Jose Edgardo Jimenez Blanco, countered that the name wasn't an attempt to capitalize on Nintendo's intellectual property. They successfully demonstrated the name's straightforward connection to the supermarket's nature and its manager's name.

Image: x.com

Charito, the supermarket owner's son who registered the trademark in 2013, expressed immense relief and gratitude to his legal team. He admitted considering giving up the fight against the gaming giant, but ultimately persevered, securing the continued use of the "Súper Mario" name.

While Nintendo holds exclusive rights to the Super Mario trademark in many countries across various products, this case underscores the complexities of trademark disputes. It highlights the challenges faced by even large corporations in protecting their intellectual property when confronted by smaller businesses with justifiable claims to a similar name. The ruling serves as a reminder that trademark law is nuanced and requires careful consideration of individual circumstances.