The artist Anitta has filed an opposition with the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (BPTO) to prevent the pharmaceutical company Farmoquímica from using the name “Anitta” for cosmetic products. The dispute centres on the company’s request to extend the protection of an existing trademark – “Annita”, with a different spelling (two “N”s and one “T”) – used for an anthelmintic that has been marketed for almost two decades.
In 2023, Farmoquímica filed an application with the BPTO to extend the use of the trademark to cosmetics. However, unlike the original spelling registered for the medication (‘Annita’), the application used the spelling ‘Anitta’, identical to the singer’s stage name, which she had registered since 2016.
In response to the application, the artist’s legal representatives argued that the coexistence of the marks in the same market segment was not feasible, especially given the phonetic and visual similarity of the names. According to the opposition, the pharmaceutical company’s use of the mark could mislead consumers into believing that the cosmetic products were associated with the artist’s brand.
The notice of opposition states:
There is no doubt that the reproduction of the term ‘ANITTA’, with exactly the same spelling and pronunciation as the opponent’s mark, may cause confusion among consumers and make the coexistence of such marks impossible.
In an official statement, the singer confirmed her legal team’s action to block the pharmaceutical company’s trademark application and also revealed that she has also filed her own application to register the ‘Anitta’ trademark for use in the cosmetics sector, reinforcing her claim to exclusivity in this specific market.
At the time of writing, Farmoquímica had not made any public statements on the matter.
This dispute involves the application of classic principles of trademark law, in particular those relating to priority of registration, likelihood of confusion and unfair association between marks. Under Brazilian Law No. 9,279/96 (Industrial Property Law), the registration of a trademark that reproduces or imitates another already registered or widely recognised trademark is prohibited if there is a risk of confusion or unfair association on the part of consumers.
This case highlights the importance of proactive and strategic trademark protection, particularly for public figures and companies operating in markets with strong identity appeal.
For this reason, it is always advisable to maintain a well-managed trademark portfolio under the care of a specialised legal team, such as Peduti Advogados.
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Author: Marília de Oliveira Fogaça, Thaís de Kássia R. Almeida Penteado and Cesar Peduti Filho, Peduti Advogados.
Source: Anitta contesta pedido de registro do seu nome por farmacêutica para produtos de beleza + https://g1.globo.com/saude/noticia/2025/04/29/anitta-disputa-para-barrar-uso-do-nome.ghtml
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“If you want to learn more about this topic, contact the author or the managing partner, Dr. Cesar Peduti Filho.”
“Se quiser saber mais sobre este tema, contate o autor ou o Dr. Cesar Peduti Filho.”