FAS RECOGNIZED THE FACTS OF UNLAWFUL USE OF FIFA SYMBOLS
St Petersburg exposed simultaneously three facts of using FIFA symbols; the companies may face up to half a million fine
1. “Engel&Volkers” real estate agency (“AB Consulting, Brokerage” Ltd.) was conducting an advertising campaign: “Win two tickets for World Cup together with Engel&Volkers, raffling off tickets for matches of FIFA 2018 World Cup. The official Cup emblem was used in the advertisements on the promotion.
2. “Stop Express” chain stores held a marketing campaign “Fill up for Mundial!”. The organizers unlawfully used the “Mundial” and “FIFA 2018 World Cup” symbols in the name of the campaign.
3. Organizing a “friendship festival of the peoples of Russia and Nigeria” devoted to FIFA World Cup, “Aurora concert hall” club (“Platinum” Ltd.) put a banner with FIFA symbols, particularly, “WORLD CUP”.
FAS found that the companies violated the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” 1.
Administrative fines (100,000 – 500,000 RUB) will be imposed the violators 2.
If elements of unfair competition related to unlawful use of official FIFA symbols are exposed during the sport championship, the antimonopoly body does not issue warnings and open cases immediately. The timeframe for case consideration is reduced to the minimum.
“We received complaints about suspected violations on 14 June and already on 19 June – in three working days – made the decision”, pointed out Deputy Head of St Petersburg OFAS, Vyacheslav Tukaev. “Such super prompt work will continue”.
1. Articles 14.6 and 14.8
2. Under Article 14.33 of the Code on Administrative Violations