Theater moniker "Ariston" abandoned: radio station forced to relinquish it

Genoa's Court grants sole trademark rights to the company proprietor of the venue hosting the Sanremo Festival.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 23 . 5:42 AM

2 min read

Theater moniker "Ariston" abandoned: Radios depart from chosen name

Theater moniker "Ariston" abandoned: radio station forced to relinquish it

In a significant ruling, the Court of Genoa has confirmed the reinforced protection of the "Ariston" theatre's trademark, marking a victory for the iconic Italian cultural symbol. This decision comes following a dispute over the unauthorised use of the term "Ariston" by a broadcaster.

The broadcaster, known as Ariston, will now change its name to Radio Flash, as per the court's order. The precautionary appeal by the Sanremo company was accepted, and the "Ariston" theatre of Sanremo emerges as the sole entity retaining the name "Ariston".

Lexsential, a renowned law firm, represented the theatre in the legal proceedings. The firm's partners, including Giulio Gaeta and Marco Romano, played a crucial role in protecting the theatre building's trademark and its cultural significance.

The Court of Genoa's ruling reaffirms the principle that reinforced protection of trademarks is necessary in related sectors within the creative and cultural industries. The broadcaster must now stop using the term "Ariston" in distinctive signs, trademarks, and domains. A penalty of 1,000 euros per day of delay applies for failure to change the trademark within the specified time.

Lawyer Jandoli, a partner at Lexsential, stated that the ruling is an important milestone for the protection of the Teatro Ariston and cultural trademarks. He expressed the firm's satisfaction with the result of the legal proceedings, with the team including associate Celestino Quarato and partner Pasquale Di Mino proud to have contributed their expertise to protect a symbol of Italian culture and music.

The confirmation of the theatre's protection is significant for its standing as a symbol of Italian culture and music. The Ariston theatre is exclusively linked to the historic theatre of Sanremo and is owned by Ariston s.r.l. The name "Ariston" remains in its place, indicating that the broadcaster's name change does not affect the theatre's name.

The ruling underscores the importance of protecting cultural trademarks and their symbolic value. The "Radio Ariston" trademark must be changed within 30 days, ensuring the continued distinction between the historical theatre and the broadcaster. This decision not only upholds the integrity of the Teatro Ariston but also sets a precedent for the protection of other cultural trademarks in Italy.