Decathlon – South African trademarks

Updated 8 November 2026

Decathlon is a French sporting goods retailer and designer. It sells its own brands – such as Quechua, Kipsta, Btwin and Domyos – for more than 60 sports.

How Decathlon has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.

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#163largest trademark owner in South Africa (of 121,626)
354trademarks filed
3different logos published since 2020
31of 45 classes used
1980first trademark filed
171filed in the last 10 years

Decathlon trademarks in 45 seconds

Decathlon trademarks in 45 seconds

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/decathlon-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html

A portfolio built over time

Decathlon filed its first South African trademark in 1980 and has filed 354 since; its busiest year was 2013, with 102 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.

Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.

The names behind the portfolio

Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.

NameMarksFiling years
Decathlon3541980–2020

Where Decathlon expanded its business

Trademark classes show what a business sells. Decathlon's portfolio is concentrated in toys & sports goods (class 28), clothing (class 25), leather & bags (class 18). Its most recent moves were into textiles (2017), medical devices (2013), pharmaceuticals (2013).

Decathlon trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2020

Decathlon trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2020

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/decathlon-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html

Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.

ClassMarksShareSince
28 Toys & sports goods5615.8%1994
25 Clothing5515.5%1989
18 Leather & bags4913.8%1994
9 Electronics & software4312.1%1994
35 Advertising & retail226.2%2009
21 Kitchenware154.2%2012
11 Lighting & appliances133.7%2012
22 Ropes & tents123.4%1994

The brands Decathlon protects most

The word marks and logo names Decathlon has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.

#BrandTrademarksClassesFiled
1B'TWIN15152013–2013
2APTONIA11112013–2016
3CAPERLAN10101998–2013
4FORCLAZ10102018–2018
5DECATHLON1091980–2012
6SOLOGNAC992013–2013
7KIPSTA952008–2013
8CORENGTH882020–2020
9FOUGANZA882013–2013
10QUECHUA882006–2013
11RIVERSIDE882018–2018
12ROCKRIDER882017–2017
13EVADICT772019–2019
14KIPRUN772019–2020
15NEWFEEL772013–2013

Logos filed most often (since 2020)

Decathlon trademark logo
16 filings · 16 classes
Decathlon trademark logo
7 filings · 7 classes
Decathlon trademark logo
2 filings · 2 classes

Decathlon's logos

The 3 different logos Decathlon has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.

How quickly its trademarks are registered

Over the last five years, Decathlon's marks took a median of 3.6 years from filing to registration, slower than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 2.8 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance.

Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.

Who files the most in Decathlon's classes

Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Decathlon's main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Decathlon's market position, not who is most like it.

In the last five years, Decathlon was #30 of 842 filers in class 28 (toys & sports goods), with 6 of 1,560 trademarks; #52 of 2,715 filers in class 25 (clothing), with 7 of 4,647 trademarks; #20 of 758 filers in class 18 (leather & bags), with 7 of 1,383 trademarks.

Decathlon's share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.

Top trademark filers in class 28 (toys & sports goods), South Africa 1975–2024: Decathlon

Top trademark filers in class 28 (toys & sports goods), South Africa 1975–2024: Decathlon

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/decathlon-south-african-trademarks/class-28-race-video.html

Main competitors – the companies most like Decathlon

Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Decathlon's – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.

Decathlon trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Decathlon trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/decathlon-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html

Trademark filings per year: Decathlon (orange) and its five closest competitors.

#CompanyRelationshipSimilarity
1WalmartRetailer's own brands62%
2Viacom InternationalOther field67%
3NintendoOther field66%
4FIFAOther field65%
5Riot GamesOther field65%
6Formula One LicensingOther field64%
7NetflixOther field63%
8DisneyOther field62%
9Projetclub–69%
10Alphapals–65%

Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.

Decathlon – relevant export countries

South Africa exported US$1.0 billion of the goods Decathlon's main classes cover in the last year – toys; games; knee; balls (class 28); clothing; shirts; hats; jackets (class 25); bags; backpacks; luggage; umbrellas (class 18); software; cases; sunglasses; apparatus and instruments (class 9); containers; water bottles; brushes; household (class 21). Combining where these goods are exported, imported, growing and made (and copied), and what protection costs, these are the markets where Decathlon's trademarks matter most.

Adjust the weightings

These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.

Worldwide

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1European Union74US$58 m-1%NationalUS$2,388
2United States of America72US$53 m-8%NationalUS$3,425
3United Kingdom68US$16 m-5%NationalUS$1,371
4Namibia64US$202 m+8%ARIPOUS$450
5Japan62US$863 k-3%NationalUS$1,774
6Canada61US$4.1 m-7%NationalUS$2,192
7Switzerland60US$2.9 m-1%NationalUS$1,660
8Australia60US$13 m-4%NationalUS$2,380
9Botswana60US$182 m-0%ARIPOUS$450
10Russian Federation59US$2.6 m+8%NationalUS$1,915

Africa

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1Namibia64US$202 m+8%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
2Botswana60US$182 m-0%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
3Nigeria54US$10 m-13%NationalUS$1,015 S&Z
4OAPI (17 states)52US$16 m+6%NationalUS$1,563 S&Z
5Tanzania52US$14 m-10%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
6Malawi51US$11 m+20%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
7Zimbabwe51US$37 m-6%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
8Mozambique51US$49 m-12%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
9Uganda48US$4.7 m+6%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
10Dem. Rep. of the Congo46US$32 m-6%NationalUS$2,100

SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 5 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$301 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.

Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.

Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z

BrandClassesNigeriaOAPI (17 states)
B'TWIN15US$3,045US$3,410
APTONIA11US$2,233US$2,671
CAPERLAN10US$2,030US$2,487
FORCLAZ10US$2,030US$2,487
DECATHLON9US$1,827US$2,302

S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.

TM Country Selection  Rank the countries for your own goods and get the quotes.

Word marks you may have considered opposing

For Decathlon's five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Decathlon's own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.

Similar to B'TWIN (classes 9, 18, 25, 28, 35; no close matches in the search)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found.

Similar to APTONIA (classes 25, 28, 35; searched 2020-09-30 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to CAPERLAN (classes 9, 18, 25, 28, 35; no close matches in the search)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found.

Similar to FORCLAZ (classes 9, 18, 25, 28; searched 2019-08-28 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to DECATHLON (classes 9, 18, 25, 28, 35; no close matches in the search)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found.

Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.

How S&Z can help you

S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.

We manage your trademarks – not just file them

Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:

Renewal managementEvery renewal date in your portfolio tracked and paid online.
Competitor watchGet real-time competitor analysis.
Similar-mark watchNew word marks that come close to yours, found as they are published using SimTM.
Expansion into AfricaLowest-cost trademark expansion into Africa - Nigeria, OAPI.

Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices

S&Z prices – South African trademarks

Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificateUS$240
Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same timeUS$225
Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing)R1,027
≈ US$62.29

Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.

Decathlon's next five years of renewals

171 of Decathlon's registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$10,652 over the five years.

Decathlon: frequently asked questions

What should Decathlon consider for its trademarks?
  • Where to file next: its goods sell strongly in Namibia, Botswana and Nigeria – markets where South African exports of the same goods are large or growing, and where S&Z files at its own all-in prices (see “Decathlon – relevant export countries”).
  • Possible gaps: its competitors also protect class 16 (paper & print), class 36 (finance & insurance) – worth checking against what the business sells or plans to sell.
  • Fewer new brands: new brand names fell from 5.0 to 1.2 a year – worth reviewing whether planned launches are being protected early enough.
  • Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.
Which of Decathlon's brands have been protected the longest?
Several of Decathlon's brands have been protected for generations and are still being filed today: APTONIA (first filed 2013, most recently 2016); SUBEA (first filed 2016, most recently 2016); ROCKRIDER (first filed 2017, most recently 2017); INOVIK (first filed 2017, most recently 2017); CANAVERAL (first filed 2018, most recently 2018). Brands that are refiled over decades – in new classes, new logos or updated packaging – keep their protection current as the business changes.
How many new brands does Decathlon launch each year?
Counting only brand names it had never filed before, Decathlon filed about 1.2 new brand names a year over the last five complete years, fewer than the 5.0 a year in the five years before; its busiest year in the last decade was 2019, with 14. Its closest competitors averaged 2.1 new brand names a year over the same period (Walmart 2.0, Viacom International 0.6, Nintendo 2.4, FIFA 2.0, Riot Games 3.4). New brand names are a good indicator of product launches and innovation.
How broadly does Decathlon protect each brand?
Decathlon has filed 54 different brand names. 9% of them are protected in a single class, while 29 cover five classes or more – the widest is B'TWIN, in 15 classes. A brand used beyond its core product (merchandise, services, related goods) needs protection in each of those classes: in South Africa each class is a separate application.
When in the year does Decathlon usually file trademarks?
Over the last ten years, Decathlon filed most often in June (13% of its filings), May (12%) and November (12%); the busiest quarter was Q2 (32%). Filing well before a launch matters: rights in South Africa date from the filing date, and examination can take more than a year.
Which classes do Decathlon's competitors protect that Decathlon does not?
Several of Decathlon's closest competitors have filed since 2015 in classes Decathlon has never used: class 16 (paper & print, 5 of its top five competitors); class 36 (finance & insurance, 3 of its top five competitors); class 42 (tech & IT services, 3 of its top five competitors); class 7 (machines, 2 of its top five competitors). These are not necessarily gaps – they may reflect different products – but they are worth reviewing against the goods and services the business actually offers or plans.
How do retailers' own brands compete with Decathlon in trademarks?
Retailers' house brands are a steady presence in Decathlon's market. In class 28 (toys & sports goods), Walmart filed 0% of all trademarks in 2020–2024, compared with 1% in 2005–2014. Retailers are often a brand owner's largest customers and, through their own brands, also its competitors.
Why did some of Decathlon's trademarks take more than five years to register?
Of Decathlon's trademarks registered in the last two years, 100% had waited more than four years since filing. Almost all of that time is examination: the South African registry has been working through a backlog, so many applications filed in 2020–2022 are only now being accepted. Once a mark is accepted, it is advertised and normally registered within about six months. Prompt responses to the registry's examination reports (office actions) avoid adding further delay.
How long do Decathlon's South African trademarks last, and when must they be renewed?
A South African trademark registration lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods indefinitely. Renewal can be paid in the months before the due date, and a six-month grace period applies after it, with a late-payment fee; a mark that is not renewed is removed from the register. A registered mark can also be challenged if it has not been used for five years or more, so use matters as much as renewal.
Do Decathlon's South African trademarks protect its brands elsewhere in Africa?
No – trademarks are territorial, and a South African registration covers South Africa only. South Africa is not a member of the Madrid system, so international registration is not available to South African applicants. Protection elsewhere in Africa comes from national filings (for example Nigeria), a single OAPI registration covering 17 West and Central African states, or a regional ARIPO application designating member states such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. S&Z files in all of these, including Nigeria together with South Africa (SANi).
What can Decathlon do if someone files a mark similar to one of its brands?
When a new application is advertised for opposition, the owner of an earlier, similar mark can oppose it – in South Africa within three months of the advertisement (this period can be extended). After registration, a conflicting mark can still be challenged through rectification of the register, and use of a confusingly similar mark can be stopped through an infringement action. The key is seeing new applications in time, which is what a similar-mark watch does.
What is SimTM?
SimTM is the similar-trademark technology behind GlobalIPCo's South African trademark watching services, which S&Z uses. It identifies newly published trademarks that sound or look similar to a registered mark, at four levels of sensitivity that progressively widen the marks flagged – from the most relevant to marks of more general interest. It is fast enough to check every trademark journal as it is published, so owners can be alerted to similar marks while they can still be opposed within the three-month opposition period. The word marks listed under “Word marks you may have considered opposing” were found with SimTM's two closest levels and then reviewed, so only marks we consider confusingly similar to Decathlon's brands are shown.
How accurate is the information on this page?
The figures, charts and videos on this page are based on trademark and trade data obtained by S&Z, and are only as accurate as that data. Records can be incomplete, delayed or contain errors, and linking marks to Decathlon and its group companies involves judgement. S&Z therefore does not guarantee that all the information is 100% accurate or complete. It is a general overview, not legal advice: please contact S&Z before relying on it for a filing, renewal, opposition or other decision.