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Viral duck 'Merlín' to be registered at IMPI; owner to trademark image
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Viral duck 'Merlín' to be registered at IMPI; owner to trademark image

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The viral duck named "Merlín" and its owner's family visited Mexico's National Palace to register the bird's name with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI).
  • Merlín gained widespread popularity after appearing with his owner at a press conference by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
  • The owner intends to register Merlín's image as a trademark to prevent other companies from profiting, though she wishes to collaborate with Mexican soft drink company Corporativo Pascual.

The viral duck known as "Merlín," accompanied by his owner's family, visited Mexico's National Palace to officially register the bird's name with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). The duck's surge in popularity followed its appearance alongside President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo during her morning press conference.

The registration with IMPI will be by me, and no one else.

— Karla Ivette GómezStating her sole intention to register the duck's name and image.

Merlín's owner, Karla Ivette Gómez, stated her intention to register the duck's image as a trademark. This move aims to prevent other companies from commercially exploiting the beloved waterfowl, which gained significant attention while wearing a Mexican national soccer team jersey during the 2026 World Cup celebrations. Gómez emphasized that the registration would be solely under her name.

Other companies will not come to profit from something that is part of my family and is purely love.

— Karla Ivette GómezExplaining her motivation for trademarking the duck's image.

"Other companies will not come to profit from something that is part of my family and is purely love," Gómez declared in a recent interview. She specifically mentioned an exception for Mexican soft drink company Corporativo Pascual, expressing a desire to support the local business. President Sheinbaum Pardo pledged government support for Merlín's family, ensuring they receive assistance to improve their quality of life, framing it as a matter of humanism and recognizing the family's hard work.

I do not want to help any company; companies will have to come to me because I will already have a registration. But the only company I do want to help is Corporativo Pascual; it is a Mexican company that I do want to help.

— Karla Ivette GómezExpressing her desire to support a specific Mexican company while preventing others from exploiting the duck's image.

Meanwhile, vendors in Mexico City's historic center have already begun selling plush toys of Merlín, capitalizing on the duck's fame. These toys, often depicting Merlín in his signature Mexican team jersey, are being sold for 100 pesos, highlighting the immediate commercial impact of the duck's viral status.

We are going to help them with everything they need, like any Mexican woman or man who needs support. We will always be there.

— Claudia Sheinbaum PardoPledging government assistance to Merlín's family.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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