Ford accuses Ferrari of stealing F-150 name
02-10-2011, 08:58 AM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Ford accuses Ferrari of stealing F-150 name
Last Updated: February 10. 2011 1:00AM
Ford accuses Ferrari of stealing F-150 name
Lawsuit seeks to block use of Italian trademark in U.S.
Robert Snell / The Detroit News
Detroit— Ford Motor Co. sued luxury automaker Ferrari in federal court Wednesday, accusing the exotic sports car company of cybersquatting and trademark infringement for allegedly misappropriating the famous F-150 name.
The lawsuit stems from Ferrari naming its new Formula 1 racing car the "F150," and creating the website www.ferrarif150.com, according to paperwork filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
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Ford has suffered irreparable harm to its F-150 trademark, the lawsuit says, and the Dearborn automaker's legal team wants a judge to block Ferrari from using the trademark in the United States. That includes importing, manufacturing or selling any product that uses the F-150 name.
Ford also wants unspecified damages and for Ferrari to give up any revenue and profits earned in the United States through the use of the F-150 name, according to the lawsuit filed by Southfield lawyer Marc Lorelli. And Ford wants $100,000 in damages pursuant to the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, which protects against Internet domain names that confuse the public over the true source of products and services.
Ford has used the F-150 name on its flagship, full-size pickup trucks since the 1975 model year.
"This is an important trademark for us and we've spent many years and lots of advertising resources on establishing this name and getting the trademark," Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said. "It's one we take very, very seriously. It's one of our flagship vehicles."
The automaker obtained a trademark registration for F-150 in 1995, according to the lawsuit. Since 1997, gross revenues for the F-150 have topped $180 billion.
The lawsuit comes days after Ferrari announced it was naming the new Formula 1 race car the "F150," which is a nod to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, according to the automaker's website.
"When Ferrari announced the name of its race car as 'F150,' Ford asked Ferrari to change the name," Gattari said. "Ferrari did not respond in a timely manner, leaving Ford no choice but to take legal action to protect its important brand and trademark rights."
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110210/...#ixzz1DZ3GSjGc
Ford accuses Ferrari of stealing F-150 name
Lawsuit seeks to block use of Italian trademark in U.S.
Robert Snell / The Detroit News
Detroit— Ford Motor Co. sued luxury automaker Ferrari in federal court Wednesday, accusing the exotic sports car company of cybersquatting and trademark infringement for allegedly misappropriating the famous F-150 name.
The lawsuit stems from Ferrari naming its new Formula 1 racing car the "F150," and creating the website www.ferrarif150.com, according to paperwork filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
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Ford has suffered irreparable harm to its F-150 trademark, the lawsuit says, and the Dearborn automaker's legal team wants a judge to block Ferrari from using the trademark in the United States. That includes importing, manufacturing or selling any product that uses the F-150 name.
Ford also wants unspecified damages and for Ferrari to give up any revenue and profits earned in the United States through the use of the F-150 name, according to the lawsuit filed by Southfield lawyer Marc Lorelli. And Ford wants $100,000 in damages pursuant to the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, which protects against Internet domain names that confuse the public over the true source of products and services.
Ford has used the F-150 name on its flagship, full-size pickup trucks since the 1975 model year.
"This is an important trademark for us and we've spent many years and lots of advertising resources on establishing this name and getting the trademark," Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said. "It's one we take very, very seriously. It's one of our flagship vehicles."
The automaker obtained a trademark registration for F-150 in 1995, according to the lawsuit. Since 1997, gross revenues for the F-150 have topped $180 billion.
The lawsuit comes days after Ferrari announced it was naming the new Formula 1 race car the "F150," which is a nod to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, according to the automaker's website.
"When Ferrari announced the name of its race car as 'F150,' Ford asked Ferrari to change the name," Gattari said. "Ferrari did not respond in a timely manner, leaving Ford no choice but to take legal action to protect its important brand and trademark rights."
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110210/...#ixzz1DZ3GSjGc
02-10-2011, 10:09 AM
#4
Le Mans Master
Here's the logo that Ferrari is using on the merchandising of the new race car as well as that of the Ford pickup. Looking at this, it's pretty obvious that Ferrari didn't try too hard to even change the font. If "F150" is trademarked by Ford, they have every right to protect their intellectual property.
02-10-2011, 10:17 AM
#5
Team Owner
Thread Starter
If they let one person use it then another will and it also has implications if you do not defend it I think I heard not really sure.
02-10-2011, 10:18 AM
#6
Team Owner
Thread Starter
02-10-2011, 11:50 AM
#8
Team Owner
Thread Starter
I would imagine Ferrari will change the name or make a deal. No clue how it could mater if it is F 150 or 155 to Ferrari. F-150 may be beneficial to Ford in some way. I guess marketing experts will know.
02-10-2011, 11:55 AM
#9
Safety Car
02-10-2011, 03:32 PM
#12
Safety Car
Ferrari does mucho business in the U.S. so they should have known better. Ferrari should never have used "F150" for anything, much less a high profile, highly publicized 4-wheel vehicle.
So now it's the "Ferrari 1/50th"
Z//
02-10-2011, 08:19 PM
#15
Drifting
Here's the logo that Ferrari is using on the merchandising of the new race car as well as that of the Ford pickup. Looking at this, it's pretty obvious that Ferrari didn't try too hard to even change the font. If "F150" is trademarked by Ford, they have every right to protect their intellectual property.
02-11-2011, 12:19 AM
#17
Team Owner
Thread Starter
02-11-2011, 12:34 AM
#19
Le Mans Master
Instead of spending the money to litigate this, Ford should direct the funds at getting an independent rear in the Mustang GT without a price increase. Nonsense on Ford's part in my opinion.
02-11-2011, 08:08 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
