Case fileReal
Hello Kitty, Inc. v. Sanrio Company, Ltd. (Panama)
A twist: a separate company literally named “Hello Kitty, Inc.” opposed Sanrio’s own Panamanian trademark applications, and lost.
Hello Kitty, Inc. (opponent/appellant),
Plaintiff,
v.
Sanrio Company, Ltd. (applicant/respondent),
Defendant.
Docket No.Expediente N° 93148-2024 (lower ruling Sentencia N° 58-24)
CourtThird Superior Court of Justice, First Judicial District (Panama)
Filed2024
StatusDecided
The record
- Court
- Third Superior Court of Justice, First Judicial District (Panama)
- Jurisdiction
- Panama
- Docket No.
- Expediente N° 93148-2024 (lower ruling Sentencia N° 58-24)
- Filed
- 2024
- Resolved
- 2025
- Sanrio’s role
- Respondent
- Type
- Trademark
- Claims
- Trademark opposition across 18 classes
- Counsel — plaintiff/petitioner
- not public
- Counsel — Sanrio side
- not public
What happened
A twist: a separate company literally named “Hello Kitty, Inc.” opposed Sanrio’s own Panamanian trademark applications, and lost.
Outcome
Per the linked judgment, the appellate court (17 Mar 2025) confirmed the lower ruling and Hello Kitty, Inc.’s opposition failed, with costs against it, a result favorable to Sanrio. WIPO Lex confirms the parties, number and date; the outcome rests on the judgment text, not the summary page.
The legal nuance
A rare case where the words “Hello Kitty” sit on the opposite side of the caption from Sanrio.
Sources of record