Haas now has filed a trademark infringement case on Guenther Steiner for usage of the F1 team and company name to market his book.
After Steiner took Haas to the court for unpaid payments against his salary and for using his name in marketing, the American F1 outfit has filed a case against their former employee in the court in Central District of California.
The case been registered by Haas Automation against Steiner for multiple offences including trademark infringement. This is regarding his book ‘Surviving to Drive’, where they noted down several usage of the company name and also its logos.
Considering the 150,000 units sold, Haas estimates $4,500,000 of revenue generated by Steiner. The team is seeking claim and has filed a case under four main terms which are:
- Infringement of registered trademark
- Trade dress infringement
- False designation of origin
- California common law under unfair business
The court order had additional points made, which went as –
- In 2023, without permission or consent from Haas Automation, Steiner authored, marketed, promoted, sold, distributed, and profited from a publication titled “Surviving to Drive” (the “Accused Product”), which unlawfully used and displayed, and continues to use and display, the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress for Steiner’s personal financial gain and illicit profit. Haas Automation never consented to Steiner’s use of the Haas Automation Trademarks or the Haas Automation Trade Dress on the Accused Product. Steiner knew that Haas Automation was the exclusive owner of the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress, but he never obtained any permission, license, consent, or authorization of any kind from Haas Automation to copy, use, and display, for commercial gain, any of the Haas Automation Trademarks or the Haas Automation Trade Dress. Steiner has sold and is selling the Accused Product with packaging and advertising that intentionally copies the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress for the sole purpose of benefiting from and trading off of Haas Automation’s famous name and pre-established consumer recognition, fame, goodwill, and reputation. Steiner acted and continues to act with intent and with a total disregard for the harm he caused and continues to cause to Haas Automation. Haas Automation gave pre-lawsuit notice to Steiner but to date Steiner has taken no action to cease or mitigate his infringing acts, necessitating the instant lawsuit. Steiner sells and promotes the Accused Product in various mediums, including without limitation print and digital, in violation of Haas Automation’s exclusive intellectual property rights. Information available online indicates that as of January 2024, the Accused Product has exceeded sales of at least 150,000 units and generated revenue of at least $4,500,000.
- Ten Speed Press is a California-based publishing company. In 2023, without permission or consent from Haas Automation, Ten Speed Press published the Accused Product, which unlawfully used and uses the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress, in various mediums, including without limitation print and digital, in violation of Haas Automation’s exclusive intellectual property rights. Ten Speed Press knew that Haas Automation was the exclusive owner of the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress, but they never sought or obtained any permission, license, consent, or authorization of any kind from Haas Automation to copy, use, and display, for commercial gain, any of the Haas Automation Trademarks or the Haas Automation Trade Dress. Ten Speed Press has sold and is selling the Accused Product with packaging and advertising that intentionally copies the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress for the sole purpose of benefiting from and trading off of Haas Automation’s famous name and pre-established consumer recognition, fame, goodwill, and reputation. Ten Speed Press has acted and continues to act with intent and with a total disregard for the harm it caused and continues to cause to Haas Automation. Information available online indicates that as of the January 2024, the Accused Product has exceeded sales of at least 150,000 units and generated revenue of at least $4,500,000; true and correct copy of images of the published Accused Product are shown [in the order].
Here’s a bit more on it: https://natlawreview.com/article/f1-team-sues-former-principal-over-personal-photographs-displaying-team-trademarks
Here’s court filing from Guenther Steiner against Haas
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