EUROPE - Reed Exhibitions Deutschland, organiser of international fitness and health exhibition FIBO, has called in lawyers over the re-emergence of a Spanish event trading under the same title.
In a statement, Reed dissociated itself from FIBO Spain, an event that shares no parentage with its 25-year-old Essen, Germany-based event. Reed, which has “explicitly disassociated” itself from FIBO Spain, has now commissioned legal advice.
Reed's FIBO (pictured), which takes place every two years at Exhibition Centre Essen, is well established as one of the leading international fitness and health events and attracts 600 exhibitors from more than 35 countries. The next edition of the show will be held from 19 to 22 April 2012.
FIBO Spain, organised by Madrid-based LEDO Sports and Events, was established in 1989 and first ran in 1990. It is aimed at a predominantly local market with some representation from north Africa, Portugal and the south of France.
FIBO Spain was held until 2003 and is being relaunched from 18 to 19 May 2012 after an eight-year hiatus.
“Reed is the holder of the FIBO brand rights for Europe and beyond and reserves legal action," said FIBO event director Olaf Tomscheit, adding that Reed already has strong connections with a Spanish Reed counterpart also covering the fitness industry.
"In the Spanish market, FIBO has been successfully cooperating for many years with Sports Unlimited Valencia, an event organised by Reed Exhibitions Iberia.”
FIBO Spain show director and CEO of Madrid-based event organiser LEDO Sports and Events, Inés Ledo, told EW she has not yet been contacted by Reed Exhibitions. The 22-year-old trade event derives its name legitimately from a contraction of the words 'fitness' and 'bodybuilding', she explained.
"There haven't been any dealings with Reed Exhibitions about the use of this coincidental name because this is a legal title in Spain, approved and recognised since 1990 by OAMI, the Spanish office of registration of patents and trademarks," Ledo said. "FIBO Spain had been organised in Spain for 14 years and never affected FIBO Germany and of course will not affect it now."
According to Ledo, FIBO Spain was halted in 2003 "due to a legal problem with the company that had the rights to the name at that time". This legal process ended a few months ago and Ledo is now the title owner.
Ledo also refuted suggestions FIBO Spain is a direct competitor for Reed's event in Germany, given its predominantly domestic catchment.
"The companies and visitors at FIBO Spain are mostly Spanish,” she continued. “The companies that wish to exhibit in Spain will go to FIBO Spain, and the ones that wish to exhibit to the whole world go to FIBO Germany."
Tomscheit dismissed claims Reed is looking to launch a similar-themed event in Spain, or to rebrand Sports Unlimited Valencia, both possible reasons for Reed's sudden interest in protecting the FIBO title against the long-established Spanish event.
"We have no intention to build up another fitness trade show in Europe," he told EW. "Our politic is one strong fair in Europe and this is what the industry demands. Of course in Europe there are smaller events without a trade fair character that we do support such as the Sports Unlimited Valencia in Spain.”
Reed’s FIBO event moves from Essen to Cologne in 2013, a move it claims caters for its “steady growth and increasingly international character”.
In other Reed news, Reed Travel Exhibitions will launch a new Latin American edition of its World Travel Market exhibition in 2013.
Any news? Contact exhibitionworld@mashmedia.net
