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Nintendo just lost a trademark fight with a tiny Costa Rican grocery store

Small business victory as local Super Mario supermarket successfully defends name against Nintendo's trademark claims

Ellsworth Toohey
Feb 03, 2025
∙ Paid

Convenience store in San Jose, Costa Rica (2011).

Gaming giant Nintendo just lost a trademark battle to a teeny grocery store in Costa Rica. José Mario Alfaro González had the audacity to name his San Ramón de Alajuela shop "Super Mario." Never mind that in Costa Rica, "super" is just what everyone calls their local grocery store, and that the owner's ac…

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