394 replies to this topic

[F1EC]

http://joesaward.wor...d-sues-ferrari/

Surely they must have seen this coming?

[Bloggsworth]

Pathetic.

[eoin]

Lets see:

Nobody in the US knows about F1, and nobody outside of the US knows about "The Ford F150, the best selling 'car' in America"... so what's the problem?!

Edited by eoin, 09 February 2011 - 22:55.

[Szoelloe]

Lets see:

Nobody in the US knows about F1, and nobody outside of the US knows about "The Ford F150, the best selling 'car' in America"... so what's the problem?!

LOL, that is about correct. Storm in a cup of tea.

[Amphicar]

Payback time for Enzo Ferrari's refusal to sell the company to Ford back in 1963 perhaps?

[Slartibartfast]

Ford claims that it has suffered irreparable harm to its F-150 trademark

Because people might confuse the two and not buy a Ford pick-up thinking that they won't be able to insure it? It has lousy cargo capacity? No ground clearance?

[Scudetto]

Ford also wants damages and is asking for Ferrari to give up any revenue and profits earned in the U.S. through the use of the F150 name.

Yes, Ferrari surely made boat loads of cash by confusing hapless Americans that the sleek, open cockpit, open wheeled race car was actually Ford's latest ranch-hand hauler.

American though I may be, there's no confusing the two.

[Slowinfastout]

I'm getting confused with the way Ferrari is naming their cars, so if Ford can make the F150 F1 a F11 with its F-150, it's all good.

[Yolandy]

Though I wouldn't confuse the two, the font of Ferrari's F150 logo really looks similar with Ford's F-150.

[Bloggsworth]

Audi took Maserati to court for calling their car the Quattroporte - The Judge pointed out that no company could own the number 4 and tossed it out of court...

[vtpachyderm]

I can actually sympathize with Ford on this one. Bit cheeky of Ferrari to use that moniker, esp. considering how big a market the US is for Ferrari. FWIW, I hear F150 on anything automotive, I think of the truck. Yes, my wife is coming to the horrible realization that my time spent studying in the US has made me a redneck

[Taxi]

lol. texas farmer rovolution, now!

[RSNS]

I can actually sympathize with Ford on this one. Bit cheeky of Ferrari to use that moniker, esp. considering how big a market the US is for Ferrari. FWIW, I hear F150 on anything automotive, I think of the truck. Yes, my wife is coming to the horrible realization that my time spent studying in the US has made me a redneck

Peugeot 908... Is that going to court, too? Pathetic, I think.

[baddog]

Ferrari do not sell a product called an F150 do they? I think Ford are overreaching here..

[freya]

Does Ford know it's a race car with a total number of 5 built? I hope so, because that text makes ford kind look like idiots. Why would ferrari care if they can't sell their billion dollar technology prototype in US or not.

[armchair expert]

Payback time for Enzo Ferrari's refusal to sell the company to Ford back in 1963 perhaps?

I think the payback was called 'GT40' and a few LeMans 24 hour wins.

[ch103]

would ferrari sue if Ford made the F60?

[RoutariEnjinu]

One is a chassis code for a racing car that cannot be bought nor used on the road, the other is an easy to manufacture low technology type of vehicle bought primarily in one country by people with self image issues.

Sounds like Ford want publicity.

[DarthRonzo]

Ferrari do not sell a product called an F150 do they? I think Ford are overreaching here..

Ever heard of Maisto and Revell

[LB]

One is a chassis code for a racing car that cannot be bought nor used on the road, the other is an easy to manufacture low technology type of vehicle bought primarily in one country by people with self image issues.

Sounds like Ford want publicity.

Not sure which is the ferrari there.;)

[Slowinfastout]

Not sure which is the ferrari there.;)

how about these two:

General Dynamics F-111


Team HRT F1 F111


Expecting money from HRT is like suing your chair I guess though..

[rolf123]

One is a chassis code for a racing car that cannot be bought nor used on the road, the other is an easy to manufacture low technology type of vehicle bought primarily in one country by people with self image issues.

Sounds like Ford want publicity.

Hit the nail on the head. It's just a chassis number.

Though if it's used on marketing materials....I dunno what happens.

[Touti]

Q: How do you get the world to talk about your company without investing millions in a worldwide campaign ?
A: You sue Ferrari

[HAM]

Ford has the right. The F-150 name is a trademark. The Ferrari lawyers should know better, even our pets saw this coming.

Ferrari sues a lot of people incl. fans who use the Ferrari sign for their Ferrari fan-websites so now they know how it feels to get sued themselves.

Edited by HAM, 09 February 2011 - 23:51.

[undersquare]

Because people might confuse the two and not buy a Ford pick-up thinking that they won't be able to insure it? It has lousy cargo capacity? No ground clearance?

Very amusing story, too. $100k damages

[Scorg]

back in 91, Porsche was going to sue an F1 team over a numbering used at the cars model number.
That being the Jordan 911, or as we came to know it as the 191, but the difference here was, Porsche were good enough to say "hey, we do not much like you using that number that matches our most popular model, if you could just so happen to change it, we would be ever so happy, oh btw, Eddie, would you like a free 911??" and something like that happened, never got to court.


Although I get the feeling that by offering an F150 to change the model number name, ferrari may not be too interested......

[ch103]

Ford has the right. The F-150 name is a trademark. The Ferrari lawyers should know better, even our pets saw this coming.

Ferrari sues a lot of people incl. fans who use the Ferrari sign for their Ferrari fan-websites so now they know how it feels to get sued themselves.

[JustinCider]

Peugeot 908... Is that going to court, too? Pathetic, I think.

As it happens, Peugot hold the rights to sue any other car manufacturer who uses a three digit designation with the middle digit being zero. Bizzare.

[trogggy]

As it happens, Peugot hold the rights to sue any other car manufacturer who uses a three digit designation with the middle digit being zero. Bizzare.

The right to sue doesn't sound like much of a right.

[Barky]

[r4mses]

back in 91, Porsche was going to sue an F1 team over a numbering used at the cars model number.
That being the Jordan 911, or as we came to know it as the 191, but the difference here was, Porsche were good enough to say "hey, we do not much like you using that number that matches our most popular model, if you could just so happen to change it, we would be ever so happy, oh btw, Eddie, would you like a free 911??" and something like that happened, never got to court.


Although I get the feeling that by offering an F150 to change the model number name, ferrari may not be too interested......

As it happens, Peugot hold the rights to sue any other car manufacturer who uses a three digit designation with the middle digit being zero. Bizzare.

That's the reason the "Porsche 911" is called "911". First it was "901" but since Peugeot holds the rights mentioned above, Porsche switched the 0 with a 1.

[legardP45]

Ford has the right. The F-150 name is a trademark. The Ferrari lawyers should know better, even our pets saw this coming.

Ferrari sues a lot of people incl. fans who use the Ferrari sign for their Ferrari fan-websites so now they know how it feels to get sued themselves.

Pretty mean spirited. I know these companies have to continually be seen to defend their copyrights and all that. Personally I think the whole thing's daft, but ford have money, ferrari have money, so I'm going to pull up a chair; away you go lads, fight!!

[Nemo29E]

Seems very petty, I don't see it causing major problems for Ford as its hardly going to confuse any one as they such different vehicles..

[shaggy]

Trademark is trademark.
Doesn't Ford have to fight this so as not to set a bad precedent ?

If Ferrari does not want its logo being used by others, maybe Ford does not want its best-selling vehicle's designation being used by others.

Maybe Ford is overreaching, but Ferrari should have known better, too

[V8 Fireworks]

http://joesaward.wor...d-sues-ferrari/

Surely they must have seen this coming?

Look Le Mans and ownership attempt is not so long ago

They are annoyed at private owner of "GT40" badge, therefore don't like Ferrari putting their famous truck name on an F1 car.


Unfortunately, Ford US gives you "Fusion" - Ford Europe gives you "Mondeo". Cars that are the same size, but completely different - seemingly a decision of "very smart people". Only the latter has recently involved itself in F1, with the Jordan team. The other is perhaps not so interested and so it is this they decide to do...

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 10 February 2011 - 01:44.

[V8 Fireworks]

how about these two:

General Dynamics F-111


Team HRT F1 F111


Expecting money from HRT is like suing your chair I guess though..

One is old, one is new.

One is worth $20m at least.

One is made up of an old GP2 car, modified with gaffa tape.

[Lee Nicolle]

I saw the Ferrari F150 thread this morning and though Ford are not going to be happy.
Pretty dumb naming a race car after a very well known commercial.
And yes Ferrarl like to sue so they will get trhere own back. Very Dumb!

[brucemoxon]

I'm sure Sniff Petrol will have fun with this, anyway.



Bruce Moxon

[V8 Fireworks]

the other is an easy to manufacture low technology type of vehicle

If it's so easy why does F150 sales > Dodge whatever it's called sales?

Surely in a week, FIAT can have their two bobs at Chrysler HQ and crush Ford and their crappy American designed model.

[Nobody]

One is made up of an old GP2 car, modified with gaffa tape.

Yeah but the terrain-following radar (TFR) is still pretty good

[bourbon]

Ferrari's "random" decision to go with the F150 instead of say...the F11, well, you know - Ford prolly didn't see it as random. And they prolly don't think it will cause any confusion until the first race occurs in which a Ferrari engine blows and, well, the headline is:

"F150 Engine Failure leaves engineers scratching heads"

Edited by bourbon, 10 February 2011 - 01:59.

[fabr68]

If anything, Ford should pay Ferrari some royalties.

Only on their dreams the people who buy a POS truck would see it running like a Formula 1 car.

[WhiteBlue]

I believe the web site has caused most of the trouble. The F1 car will not really collide with Fords trade mark I think. It is sufficiently distanced. The web site has a global reach and Ferrari could be using it as a precedence if they ever wanted to market an F150 product in America. They are probably a bit paranoid and over reactive but that is not unusual in the American legal world.

[evo]

what does Ford's F-150 model designation stand for?

Ferrari's F150 is a commeration of Italian significance 150yrs ago.

So this is what Ford does with taxpayers money? Suing for trademark infringement is going to be their latest and greatest revenue stream?

I, for one, would rather see the potential spat Group Lotus may have with Team Lotus over the "T128" chassis designation. At least that has some substance.

[IFRLIceman]

So this is what Ford does with taxpayers money?

Ford didn't take the taxpayer's money. They saw it came with strings attached and decided to go a different route.

Ford has had that name trademarked for years...

[Scudetto]

Ferrari's "random" decision to go with the F150 instead of say...the F11, well, you know - Ford prolly didn't see it as random. And they prolly don't think it will cause any confusion until the first race occurs in which a Ferrari engine blows and, well, the headline is:

"F150 Engine Failure leaves engineers scratching heads"

When was the last time there was an F1 related headline in a market where the Ford F-150 is sold?

[Seanspeed]

The American way:

"It really doesn't affect me in the least, but I might be able to make some money out of it....."

[dofe]

Under U.S. trademark law, failure to enforce a trademark in the event of infringement exposes the mark owner to potential loss of mark ownership. This is why Ford is suing (and the reason why companies like Disney are so quick to sue potential trademark violators).

Hiring lawyers is not cheap: the idea that Ford is suing to make some money is silly to say the least.

[V8 Fireworks]

Yeah but the terrain-following radar (TFR) is still pretty good

[V8 Fireworks]

The American way:

"It really doesn't affect me in the least, but I might be able to make some money out of it....."

They need to protect the trademark.

Say you launch a Seanspeed SG, short for Seanspeed Guitar (yes like automatic teller machine machine). Now this is a hollow acoustic ukulele not a 6-string `solid guitar' electric.

Do you think this ok, as no one could possibly confuse it with a Gibson SG ???

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 10 February 2011 - 03:00.