Supreme Court Rules Against Antena 3 in Pasapalabra Intellectual Property Dispute

The Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that the 'El Rosco' segment of the popular television quiz show 'Pasapalabra' is a protected intellectual property owned by the Dutch company MC&F, prohibiting Antena 3 from continuing its broadcast.

Key points

• The ruling confirms a 2022 decision by the Barcelona Provincial Court, rejecting appeals from both Atresmedia and ITV Studios.
• Mediaset, which previously lost the rights to the show in 2019, has secured a separate agreement with MC&F to acquire the rights to 'El Rosco'.
• Antena 3 is permitted to continue airing the segment temporarily until the court's sentence is formally executed.
• The legal conflict over the format's ownership dates back to 2009, involving multiple production companies and broadcasters.

Why it matters

The decision marks a significant shift in the landscape of Spanish television, as the country's most successful quiz show faces a major format change due to intellectual property litigation.