06/02/2026
The Winter Olympics officially begin today, kicking off two weeks in which athletes, broadcasters, sponsors, and rights holders will all be hoping to make the most of their time in the global spotlight.
While the spotlight is on sporting excellence, one figure skating routine inspired by the Minions franchise has already shown how creativity at the Winter Olympics can bring unexpected legal challenges.
A Routine Almost lost to IP Permissions
Spanish figure skater Tomás-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté was on the verge of seeing his Olympic dream derailed when rights holder Universal initially withheld approval for the music he had been skating to for months to be used on the Olympic stage. The episode shows that performing to pop culture isn’t just creative expression – it’s a legal exercise too.
There are two separate issues at play. First, copyright: the music from the Minions films can’t be used in a global, televised event without proper licensing. That’s standard for figure skating, which is why athletes submit tracks through the International Skating Union’s ClicknClear system.
Second, and more complicated, is branding and trade marks. The Minions aren’t just characters – they’re a billion-dollar brand. By skating in a yellow shirt and blue overalls to Minions music, Sabaté isn’t only using sound recordings; he’s visually invoking a protected franchise. That raises brand-control questions: does this imply endorsement, partnership, or an official tie-in?
Skating into Brand territory
For companies like Universal, these decisions aren’t just about legality – they’re about how and where their IP appears. The Olympics are a massive commercial stage, and brand owners are cautious about what they’re associated with when millions of eyes are trained on the event.
Public support has helped reverse Universal’s position, allowing the routine for this “one special occasion”, demonstrating a balance between fan-driven creativity and corporate IP control.
The takeaway is simple: when athletes borrow from famous franchises, they’re not just choreographing a routine – they’re gliding through a legal minefield, balancing copyright law, trade mark rights, and brand strategy at the same time.
IP considerations for the fortnight ahead
As Milano Cortina 2026 unfolds, we’ll undoubtedly see more examples of IP shaping what the world is watching. Whether it’s athlete branding strategy, further trade mark and copyright concerns or new patented technology that hits the headlines, it will be interesting to see which IP stories capture attention as the Games progress.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
