FIFA could be rebranded as ‘EA Sports FC’, trademark applications suggest
EA recently confirmed it’s exploring changing the franchise’s name
Electronic Arts has filed multiple trademark applications for ‘EA Sports FC’, which could potentially be the new name for its FIFA football franchise should it rebrand the series as it’s currently considering.
On October 7, EA Sports group GM Cam Weber confirmed the company was “exploring the idea” of renaming the blockbuster franchise and was reviewing its naming rights agreement with world football’s governing body FIFA.
It has since emerged that the company filed video game software trademark applications for ‘EA Sports FC’ with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office on October 1 and October 4 respectively.
Were EA to cut ties with FIFA, Weber pointed out that it would still hold many separate league, player and stadium licensing agreements with other partners.
“Through years of building our global franchise, we also know that authenticity is essential to the experience,” he said.
“That’s why we focus so much energy on the collective strength of over 300 individual licensed partners that give us access to 17,000+ athletes across 700+ teams, in 100 stadiums and over 30 leagues around the world.
“We continually invest in the partnerships and licenses that are most meaningful to players, and because of that, our game is the only place you can authentically play in the iconic UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONMEBOL Libertadores, Premier League, Bundesliga, and LaLiga Santander, among many others.
“The breadth of our partnerships and our ecosystem of licensed content will enable us to continue to bring unrivalled authenticity in our EA Sports football games, now and for many years to come.”