Legal Dispute over ‘FCH’ Abbreviation Between Heidenheim and Rostock

1. FC Heidenheim, currently competing in the Bundesliga, and Hansa Rostock, a member of the 3. Liga, are engaged in a legal dispute regarding the rights to the abbreviation “FCH.” The two clubs last faced each other on the pitch nearly three years ago, yet their rivalry has taken a different form as they navigate this court case.

According to a report by the Ostsee-Zeitung, as relayed by Kicker, Hansa Rostock is challenging Heidenheim’s registration of the name “FCH Fanshop” with the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) in 2024. Rostock claims a rightful stake in the abbreviation, which they believe is integral to their identity.

The roots of the conflict trace back to a bilateral marketing agreement established in 2008, wherein the BaWü club, Heidenheim, agreed that the designation “FCH” would not be claimed by the younger Hansa Rostock. Heidenheim’s recent patent filing has led Rostock to assert that this agreement has been violated, as Heidenheim argues that it is the older club, based on its founding year of 1846.

However, Heidenheim has undergone numerous mergers and consolidations, leading to its current structure only being established in 2007. In contrast, Hansa Rostock was founded in 1965, making it the older entity in this context.

Both Markus Gamm, spokesman for Heidenheim, and Marit Scholz, a public relations professional from Rostock, have been quoted in the Ostsee-Zeitung, indicating that the legal proceedings continue while both sides also explore the option of an amicable resolution. Scholz elaborated on the 2008 agreement, stating that Heidenheim had consented to refrain from using the “FCH” abbreviation unless it was accompanied by a clarification indicating “Heidenheim 1846.”