“Flapper” Ibai Llanos stands as one of the most recognizable voices in Spanish-language sports broadcasting and video games. His rising fame prompted him to commission a formal portrait of his distinctive face to protect its commercial potential across a wide market. The image is set to be used in 27 European Union member countries, ensuring broad geographic coverage while preserving control over its use.
In a strategic move, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) accepted a registration featuring a stylized drawing of Ibai Llanos’ profile. The artwork highlights his defining features: a trimmed beard and mustache, coupled with the left-parted hairstyle, all rendered on a light background with dark lines to maximize recognizability. This registration aims to secure his likeness in the public domain and prevent unauthorized commercial use.
Through this registration, the Euroagencia Community guarantees that Ibai Llanos’ image, even though he resides in Bilbao, remains protected from commercial exploitation by third parties across a broad array of items. The scope spans classic stationery, apparel, leather goods, contemporary gadgets, and immersive metaverse experiences, among other categories.
Additionally, the notification reserves rights for a range of products such as gym equipment, sporting goods, holiday decorations, entertainment services, and the development of computer hardware and software. The precautionary measure provides a clear framework for licensing and brand integrity across diverse markets.
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Sources close to Ibai Llanos, as relayed to EFE, indicate that the face registration came from a desire to protect a recognizable icon used in broadcasts. The aim was to safeguard the trademark and deter illegitimate usage, ensuring the creator could pursue legitimate commercial opportunities whenever suitable.
The same insiders noted that while improper use is avoided, the registration enables strategic use of the image in commercial products and campaigns to benefit the creator and associated projects.
Ibai Llanos, already known for trademark protections around his name and the charitable initiative Ibainéfico, has built a broad platform that includes collaborations with UNICEF. The facial portrait registration extends this brand protection to his most iconic visual symbol, reflecting growth driven in part by the platform’s expansion during lockdowns.
The evolution from a voice to a widely recognized persona has been accompanied by forays into cinema, with appearances in projects such as Cámera Café, la película, in 2022, and attendance at notable industry events like Gerard Piqué’s League of Kings launch.
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Ibai remains highly visible through his broadcasts across multiple platforms, including Twitch, where he shares festive content from Madrid’s Puerta del Sol alongside well-known presenters. His circle includes other prominent Spanish creators who also hold brand registrations for their names and identities.
EUIPO stands as one of the largest decentralized authorities within the European Union, coordinating the registration of community trademarks, designs, and models. The office collaborates with a network of European bodies and hosts the European Observatory against Piracy, underscoring a broad mandate for protecting intellectual property across the bloc. The organization processes thousands of trademark registrations annually and conducts its operations in multiple official languages, reflecting the EU’s linguistic diversity.