{"id":107352,"date":"2025-05-16T21:58:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T21:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/107352\/"},"modified":"2025-05-16T21:58:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T21:58:08","slug":"not-just-frisby-another-colombian-brand-is-in-legal-dispute-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/107352\/","title":{"rendered":"Not just Frisby, another Colombian brand is in legal dispute in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

First it was Frisby<\/strong>. The iconic fried chicken chain that was born in Pereira nearly half a century ago outraged an entire nation when it was revealed that its name, image, and essence were being replicated by an unrelated company in Spain. The case escalated into a media phenomenon, sparking reactions from Medell\u00edn\u2019s Metro system to the country\u2019s largest brands. But now, history repeats itself with another gem from Colombia\u2019s brand portfolio: Pony Malta<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The beverage that has accompanied school recesses and sports training for generations is now the subject of a registration attempt in Europe that almost exactly reproduces its visual identity: the iconic red pony, the distinctive typography, and the blue, red, and yellow colors. According to official records from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM<\/a>), a resident of Barcelona, Carlos Alberto Rend\u00f3n Zambrano<\/strong>, filed for the registration of this image as his own trademark in Spain on August 9, 2024.<\/p>\n

A wake-up call for Colombia\u2019s brand heritage<\/p>\n

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\n @ultimahoracol_<\/a> <\/p>\n

#Noticias<\/a> Pony Malta, en la mira de una disputa legal en Espa\u00f1a por uso no autorizado de su imagen. Un ciudadano en Barcelona intent\u00f3 registrar una marca casi id\u00e9ntica a la de Pony Malta, replicando su pony, colores y tipograf\u00eda. Bavaria ya present\u00f3 oposici\u00f3n ante las autoridades europeas para proteger la identidad de esta emblem\u00e1tica bebida colombiana. El caso se suma al de Frisby, encendiendo las alertas sobre la protecci\u00f3n de marcas nacionales en el exterior. Por: @Mar\u00eda Camila S\u00e1nchez Imagenes Redes\/Pexels. #PonyMalta<\/a> #Bavaria<\/a> #MarcaRegistrada<\/a> #PropiedadIntelectual<\/a> #IdentidadVisual<\/a> #MarcasColombianas<\/a> #DisputaLegal<\/a> #Espa\u00f1a<\/a> #Frisby<\/a> #PlagioDeMarca<\/a> #RegistroDeMarca<\/a> #EmpresasColombianas<\/a> #Protecci\u00f3nDeMarca<\/a> #NoticiasColombia<\/a> #IndustriaColombiana<\/a><\/p>\n

\u266c sonido original \u2013 \u00daltima Hora Col<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The registration attempt raised alarms at Bavaria<\/a>, owner of the Pony Malta<\/strong><\/a> brand, which responded with a formal opposition to the OEPM in late 2024. As reported by Valora Analitik<\/a>, the company argues it holds the legal trademark for the name \u201cPony Malta\u201d with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), although the graphic design\u2014the \u201cpony\u201d\u2014was not yet protected in Spain. The legal process is currently ongoing and awaiting a resolution from European authorities.<\/p>\n

Rend\u00f3n Zambrano\u2019s<\/strong> move is neither isolated nor accidental. It follows the same pattern as the Frisby<\/strong><\/a> case, in which a company named Frisby Espa\u00f1a S.L.<\/strong> registered the name and filed to annul the original Colombian brand\u2019s use in Europe. According to El Pa\u00eds<\/a>, the brand had been registered by Frisby Colombia<\/strong> since 2005 but had not been actively used on the continent. That lack of effective use opened the door for a third party now claiming exclusive rights to the name in the old continent.<\/p>\n

In the case of Pony Malta<\/strong>, what\u2019s at stake isn\u2019t the name\u2014which Bavaria<\/strong> has already registered\u2014but the visual identity that makes the drink instantly recognizable. This issue jeopardizes not just a brand, but the collective memory of millions of consumers.<\/p>\n

Beyond a bottle: identity, nostalgia, and reputation<\/p>\n

The seriousness of the case lies in its symbolism. As Portafolio<\/a> explains, Pony Malta<\/strong> is not just a drink: it\u2019s a cultural and emotional symbol. What\u2019s at stake is the possibility that a third party could market products with an image indistinguishable from the original, leading to consumer confusion, reputational damage, and potentially, market loss for the Colombian brand.<\/p>\n

Bavaria<\/strong> faces a complex legal scenario. As noted by Forbes Colombia<\/a>, if the OEPM<\/strong> grants the figurative mark to the Spanish citizen, Pony Malta<\/strong> may not be able to use its own logo on products within Iberian territory\u2014and possibly in other European markets. This would be despite its decades-long presence and emotional connection with its audience across Latin America.<\/p>\n

Even though the process is still at the administrative stage, the consequences are tangible. According to legal experts, these disputes are usually resolved in favor of the party that proves continuous commercial use. But without evidence of active presence in Europe, companies risk losing their rights due to inaction.<\/p>\n

A call for collective action<\/p>\n

Frisby<\/strong> sounded the alarm. Pony Malta<\/strong> confirms this was not an isolated case. As revealed by Caracol Radio, there are also European registration attempts for other Colombian brands like Fruti\u00f1o, Golty, and Quipitos. In a world where digital borders allow any brand to project itself globally, failing to register trademarks abroad is like leaving the door open for impersonation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In response to this landscape, industry spokespeople are urging national brands to legally protect themselves, while calling on government entities to strengthen support and protection mechanisms abroad. Because, as shown by the #APollo<\/strong> movement that emerged from the Frisby<\/strong> case, a nation\u2019s brand heritage is not defended solely in court\u2014it\u2019s defended on the streets, on social media, and in the hearts of consumers.<\/p>\n

\u201cPony Malta is in the crosshairs of a legal battle that goes beyond a logo: it\u2019s a matter of cultural sovereignty, industrial identity, and respect for legacy,\u201d said global branding analyst Santiago Mora in an interview with El Colombiano<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The OEPM\u2019s verdict is still pending. But what\u2019s clear is that Colombia must wake up to a new form of commercial colonization<\/strong>: one where its most beloved symbols can be appropriated with a simple form.<\/p>\n

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