Football Manager 2022: Manchester United to be renamed ‘Manchester UFC’ after a trademark dispute. Last year The Premier League Club has sued Sega, publisher of the Football Manager game. After more than one year, Sega and Manchester United reach a settlement over a trademark dispute. They mutually decided that the Premier League club be renamed “Manchester UFC” or “Man UFC”. This renamed process will be implanted in the Football Manager 22 onwards, according to Sega.
Football Manager 2022: Trademark Dispute. Last year, after 16 years of the release of Sports Interactive’s first Football Manager game, Manchester United sued the developer to use their name in the game. As per reports, Manchester United has taken legal action against Sega and Sports Interactive for allegedly infringing its trademark. This Trademark dispute took more than one year to solve/settle the matter.
Sega and Sports Interactive said that the use of the club’s name is “a legitimate reference to the Manchester United football team in a football context” and has been used in the game and its predecessor Championship Manager since 1992 “without complaint by the claimant”.
Manchester United and Sega have agreed a settlement to amicably resolve their trade mark dispute relating to Football Manager. Both parties are pleased to resolve this matter to their mutual satisfaction. pic.twitter.com/OQXeY7nMXP
— Football Manager (@FootballManager) August 6, 2021
Manchester United and Sega released a statement where they stated,
“Manchester United and Sega have agreed to a settlement to amicably resolve their trademark dispute relating to Football Manager 2022. Both parties are pleased to resolve this matter to their mutual satisfaction. From FM22 onwards, the football club will be named ‘Manchester UFC’ or ‘Man UFC’,” A Sega Spokesperson told MEN Sport. These name changes have been made purely to settle the dispute on a no admissions basis. SEGA and Sports Interactive maintain that they do not need a license to use the ‘Manchester United’ name but have made the change as a gesture of goodwill so that both parties can move on.”