IP and Sport: A Winning Team

Roger Federer has won USD130m in prize money, but it’s the IP in his brand that’s really built his empire – his 10 year contract with Uniqlo is worth $300m alone, and isn't even dependent on him continuing to play tennis. 

World IP expert Dr Francis Gurry discusses the monetisation of sport, and explains how the sporting ecosystem, comprised of various rights including merchandising, trade marks,  branding, and broadcasting, relies on IP to ensure all parties receive an equitable share of revenue. 

There are cautionary tales too; like Mr Rubik, who didn’t have the money to patent the Rubik’s Cube in Asia, and lost huge royalties as a result. Or the risk of piracy, leading to loss of revenue from selling broadcasting and advertising rights. 

And the future? Francis shares his experience at a recent eSport tournament and his prediction as to whether this is the next new Olympic event! 

For more insights on the importance of IP in turning ideas into commercial realities, be sure to follow From Idea to Intellectual Property, brought to you by IPH Limited, Asia Pacific's leading intellectual property services group.