According to Eurogamer, a Costa Rican supermarket named "Super Mario" has won a trademark battle against Nintendo. At first glance, it may seem like a clear case of trademark infringement, but the reality is more complex.
Super Mario Supermarket in San Ramón has been in business for 52 years. It opened in 1973—12 years before "Super Mario Bros." became a brand—but only officially registered its name in 2013. Despite this, it ran unchallenged for decades, named after its founder, Don José Mario Alfaro González.
His son, Carlos "Charito" Alfaro, now co-runs the store. Nintendo’s lawyers took notice when the supermarket renewed its trademark in 2023. Though Carlos initially doubted their chances, the supermarket ultimately won the case.
In a Facebook post, Carlos admitted he almost gave up, thinking they had no chance against such a corporate giant. However, thanks to their legal advisor, José Edgardo Jiménez Blanco, they secured the backing of Costa Rica’s National Registry.
This ruling is a rare setback for Nintendo, known for aggressively winning legal battles. For once, the gaming giant has been held accountable for its aggressive legal tactics.
Viewer Comments:
If we looked around the world, I bet we’d find tons of Mario supermarkets.
No way… Our Nintendo actually lost?!
Honestly, it feels like the first one to claim it always wins.
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