Small Supermarket in Costa Rica Wins Legal Battle Against Nintendo
A Costa Rican grocery store named Super Mario successfully fought Nintendo in court to keep its name, despite the gaming giant’s copyright claims.
Small Supermarket in Costa Rica Defeats Nintendo in Court
A small grocery store in Costa Rica called Super Mario found itself in a legal fight with Nintendo, as the gaming company claimed the store’s name was copyright infringement.
Nintendo is known for aggressively protecting its intellectual property, often shutting down fan projects, emulators, and even YouTube videos.
This time, their legal action extended to a local supermarket that had been using the name for over 50 years.
Rather than backing down, Super Mario’s owner, José Mario Alfaro González, decided to fight back—and won.
Also Read: WoW Players Can Now Earn Heroic Nerub’ar Palace Gear Through Plunderstorm
Why Did Nintendo Sue?
According to a report from Tico Times, using the word “super” in Costa Rica is a common way to refer to supermarkets.
So, Super Mario simply means “Mario’s Supermarket” rather than a direct reference to the video game character.
The legal battle began when González tried to register his store’s trademark. Nintendo of America filed an appeal, arguing that they alone own the rights to the Super Mario name.
Initially, González and his team considered changing the store’s name to avoid the legal fight, but ultimately, they chose to stand their ground.
A Rare Victory for Small Businesses
On January 21, Super Mario officially won the case, securing its right to keep the name.
“We refuted all of Nintendo’s arguments, demonstrating their errors and our rightful claim,” González’s lawyer explained.
The key argument was that Nintendo does not sell food products widely enough to block the grocery store from using the name.
Most small businesses can’t afford to fight major corporations in court, so they usually give in to legal pressure. But in this case, Super Mario’s legal team stood their ground and won.
For once, a small business took on a corporate giant—and came out on top.
Also Read: OnlyFangs Defeats Ragnaros in Hardcore WoW Classic with Minimal Losses
For More Games News Bookmark our Website
Love puzzle games? check out now
