German Football Federation Wins First Court Battle In Jersey Logo Dispute With Real

The German Football Federation (DFB) "has won the first court battle in its jersey logo dispute with supermarket chain Real," according to SPIEGEL ONLINE. Real "will not be allowed to sell shirts with a similar logo." However, the most important decision in the fight "is yet to come." The Munich court "confirmed a temporary injunction which forbids Real from selling shirts and mats with a logo similar to the DFB's eagle logo." The court said that the logo "is so similar to the protected trademark of the federation that the sale would violate the DFB's rights." However, the dispute "is not yet resolved as the court did not examine if the logo can be protected as a trademark." Real "submitted a corresponding request to the German Patent Office." This fundamental decision "is way more important for the DFB" than the sale injunction (SPIEGEL ONLINE, 8/7).