Copyrights for FIFA World Cup`s logo costed FIFA $500, first case for illegal use brought more than $5000

One of the most important events of 2018 was the FIFA World Cup in Russia. FIFA association launched a competition and offered to create the championship`s logo. Ekaterina Bocharova from Tomsk took part in that contest and got the majority votes in the Internet poll. A wolf that represents fun, charm and confidence has been chosen by the Russian public as the Official Mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and was named Zabivaka.

Under the agreement between Miss Bocharova and FIFA she was paid $500 for the copyright ownership, which is absurd considering the importance it had for World Cup association. The price was agreed on at the sketching stage. Holding championships of this magnitude generates millions of dollars, and the logo is one of the most important things. Can you imagine – how many toys, clothes, souvenirs, etc. were purchased and how much profit it brought?

That student could have been very rich, only if she would register a copyright for Zabivaka! Or at least she could have earned way more for selling the copyright ownership! She as well could have sold the non-exclusive rights to FIFA, and still have a right to make profit using her wolf.

Sometime later,a tailor woman from Kazan received an order for three big mascot dolls. But when the order was ready the police showed up at her door sinstead of the customer. FIFA sued the tailor lady for illegal use of the World Cup`s symbol. The amount requested for copyright infringement was $6500 – ten times more than what FIFA had paid for the logo.

You can never know if you’d be a winner in a contest. And you can never know if your creation will be the logo of the next FIFA World Cup, NHL or NBA. You must protect your creation before you participate. Otherwise you could lose a lot of money.

Picture: Pinterest.com