Zelenograd Authority and Construction Committee violated FIFA rights
Stylized depiction of 2018 World Football Cup are displayed in the municipality without permission of FIFA and FIFA authorized organization
Kaliningrad OFAS received a complained of “Intellectual Property Agency” Ltd. – an official representative of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) about banners with sport competition symbols put on public transport stops in Zelenograd Town District. The official web-site of the Town Authority also contains information on the work planned to put decorations on the streets for the promenade in the form of light-boxes as well as light panels with the symbols of sport events; in particular, stylized images of 2018 World Football Cup. Neither FIFA, nor FIFA authorized organizations concluded contracts entitling to use sport event symbols with the authority of “Zelenograd Town District” Municipality, Zelenograd Trading House and (or) persons that manufacture, supply and assemble light boxes and panels as well as banners with symbols of sport events and otherwise consented to such use.
Investigating the case, the antimonopoly body ascertained signs of violating Article 15 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” by Municipal Administration and the Committee on Construction and Housing & Utility and Public Amenities of “Zelenograd Town District” Municipality. In the absence of control over compliance with Clause 8.2 of the Rules for improving the territory of “Zelenograd Town District” Municipality, approved by a decision of the District MP Council, placing information with the symbols of 2018 FIFA World Football and 2017 FIFA Confederation Cup.
To suppress the violations, OFAS issued warnings to the Town Authority and the Committee to stop omissions and exercise the necessary actions by 25 May 2017 to stop putting information on the district facilities using sport event symbols.
Should they fail to execute the warning, an antimonopoly case will be opened against the violators.