In Costa Rica, the protection of rights in the sports sector is governed by a combination of national laws, specific regulations, and international standards implemented through federations and sports organizations.
Among the key regulations are the Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation Law and the Labor Code and Labor Rights. Additionally, the country adheres to the standards of international bodies such as FIFA, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Intellectual Property Rights Protection in Sports
Broadcasting and Commercialization Rights: These ensure the protection of the reproduction, distribution, and dissemination of audiovisual material related to sports events.
Trademark and Sponsorship Protection: These safeguard the rights over sports brands, logos, and other distinctive signs of clubs and federations. They also regulate sponsorship agreements to prevent the misuse of athletes’ and teams’ images.
Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
Sports-related disputes can be resolved through the National Sports Arbitration Tribunal (TNAD), which offers an effective alternative to the judicial system. For international disputes, cases may be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS/CAS) in Switzerland.
At our firm, we have built extensive expertise in Sports Law advisory services alongside our clients. We understand that this field requires not only deep legal knowledge but also the sensitivity to recognize sports as a matter of public interest, even when conducted within a private framework.
