Ford sueing Ferrari over "F150" name

[Dave B]

From Adam Cooper:

To no one’s great surprise Ford has taken legal action in Detroit against Ferrari for using the F150 name on its new car.

It seems that nobody in Maranello had noticed that one of the world’s biggest vehicle manufacturers had been using the designation for its most popular truck since 1975.

Ford is particularly irate over the existence of the http://www.ferrariF150.com website, and has accused the Italian company of cybersquatting and trademark infringement, according to paperwork filed in US District Court in Detroit.

Full story: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/02/09/f...-of-f150-name/


Also reported by Joe Saward:

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. Ford also 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.

Full story: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/...-sues-ferrari/

Same name, obviously, but do they really think anybody would be confused and accidentally order the wrong one?

[Mark]

Obvious.. It's just the name of a car they'll be using for one year, Ferrari should change it.

[Roamy]

WOW like who really gives a sh!t. Ford would be so lucky as to have that sh!tbox associated with a Ferrari. Here is a dumb company that just got tons of free advertising and is now suing the golden goose. And while I am at it my daughter bought a new ford explorer and this sh!tbox should be banned from the earth. 12 miles to the gallon. This is a total loser and with the carbon issue in the world and Ford brings out this- they should go under. There is no excuse for a grocery store SUV getting 12 mpg. In this country they need revenue bad. Police are ticketing everything they possibly can. What the hell does any one need a ford mustang for?????? Although it gets better mileage than the pig explorer. The freaking f150 ford probably gets 8 mpg.

[Mark]

12 MPG? Even though that's American gallons that's shocking..

Ford in Europe (and probably elsewhere) has some very good models, and very fuel efficient too, it's long been the case that the US division is dragging the rest of the company down!

[Roamy]

12 MPG? Even though that's American gallons that's shocking..

Ford in Europe (and probably elsewhere) has some very good models, and very fuel efficient too, it's long been the case that the US division is dragging the rest of the company down!

Yes Mark I was shocked as hell. I even thought of renting a trailer so I could haul and extra tank. This car is pathetic- And seriously should be banned as probably every other engine in the world over 5 cylinders with a large cu in displacement. We don't need this stuff for transportation. Now with that being said what about ferraris and porsches - tax em

[Dave B]

Reminds me of a message from an Englishman I know in New York. He said they've banned smoking to improve air quality, but still allow thousands of V6 petrol engined taxis that do 15mpg. Crazy!

[Roamy]

yes and v-8 s too -- we do need to get knocked upside the head !

[Mark]

Reminds me of a message from an Englishman I know in New York. He said they've banned smoking to improve air quality, but still allow thousands of V6 petrol engined taxis that do 15mpg. Crazy!

A V6 in a taxi is completely crazy.. In fact a petrol engine in a taxi is crazy!

[Dave B]

yes and v-8 s too -- we do need to get knocked upside the head !

You're correct: the standard "Yellow Cab" has a 4.6L V8!

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...-crviccomm.asp

[Rollo]

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. Ford also 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.

It will fail.

Saab took Porsche to the International Court in the Hague over its use of the number "901" for a particular model number, when they claimed that they had use of all three digit numbers with a "0" in the middle. Consequently International Copyright and Trademarks Laws (of which the US is a signatory) says that you can not copyright or trademark letters, numbers, or letter-number combinations unless they are a meaningful and distinct word.
Microsoft can not for instance sue someone for using the word "Word" because it happens to be the name of a word processing package. Neither can Ferrari sue Peugeot for coming out with a car called a "308".

As for trademark infringement, no-one looking at "ferrarif150" in their right mind is looking for Fords. Simple common sense dictates that this is stupid.