Trademark: Inter Miami Shield Logo

First Used: 2018

Registered: 2020

Current Owner: MIPH, LLC [1]

Trademark Type: traditional trademark; word mark; design mark

Primarily Associated With: entertainment services, namely, soccer exhibitions rendered live in a stadium, and through the media of television and radio and via the internet [2]

Brief (and likely incomplete) History [3]:

Congratulations to Inter Miami CF for advancing to the 2025 MLS Cup! Over the next few days we will be highlighting some trademark registrations celebrating the MLS championship, including those owned by Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Inter Miami CF joined Major League Soccer as an expansion club in 2020, bringing professional soccer back to South Florida for the first time since the Miami Fusion folded in 2001. Backed by an ownership group that includes David Beckham, the club debuted with high expectations and a strong emphasis on developing a distinct South Florida identity. After the inaugural season played largely behind closed doors due to the pandemic, Inter Miami began building momentum, highlighted by the arrival of global superstar Lionel Messi in 2023, an event that instantly transformed the club into a global phenomenon and sparked a surge in attendance, media attention, and on-field performance. Powered by Messi, his longtime Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez, Inter Miami captured the 2023 Leagues Cup, marking the first trophy in club history. Now, the team sets its sights on the MLS Cup - good luck Miami!

While Inter Miami CF has some big stars, it has a small trademark portfolio. The Inter Miami Shield Logo [4] and the Inter Miami M Logo [5] are registered design marks for a wide range of goods and services including primarily for “entertainment services, namely, soccer exhibitions.” The team only has one registered word mark: FREEDOM TO DREAM® [6] is registered in connection with sunglasses, posters, drinking cups, clothing, soccer balls, entertainment services, and more.

This may shock you dear reader, but “Inter Miami” is actually not a registered trademark! Since its founding in 2020, Inter Miami has been in a long running dispute with the other, larger “Inter”: Inter Milan. Inter Milan owns a US trademark registration for INTER® [7] in connection with “professional soccer games” and many other goods and services. Both Inter Miami and Major League Soccer have tried to file to protect “Inter Miami.” Inter Miami has pending trademark applications for INTER MIAMI™ [8] and INTER MIAMI FC™ [9], and Major League Soccer has a pending trademark application for INTER MIAMI CF™ [10]. All three of the pending applications are currently pending and suspended based on Inter Milan’s INTER® registration. Inter Milan and Major League Soccer (and Inter Miami) have been in settlement discussions over the year, but there is no word of a resolution yet. What do you think? Is Inter Miami’s use of “INTER” confusing?

Interested in learning more about trademarks from other 2025 sporting events? Check out our 2025 posts on College Football National Championship, Super Bowl, March Madness (and Final Four), Stanley Cup, NBA Championship, WNBA Championship, and World Series.