Guenther Steiner has won the trademark case against Haas Automation, after the F1 team filed one against its former team principal.
When Steiner filed a cased against Haas Automation for unpaid dues for his work, the F1 team filed a counter-case in California Court with regards to trademark infringement. It centered around Steiner’s book ‘Surviving To Drive’, which estimated to a revenue of about $4,500,000 at the time of filing.
Haas alleged that Steiner used its name and logo in his book, especially in the pictures it carried, and that the Italian should pay up royalty for using unauthorised property. The court, though, sided with the former boss and its publisher Ten Speed Press after a round of hearing.
The court ruling played it as a normal thing to happen for any individual who have left the company. In any form of biography, a person’s former employer’s name can be used. Because the person is not using it in the capacity of source-identifying mark, but more that he was at that position with them i.e F1 team principal in this case.
The court further noted that Steiner and the publisher did not use the Haas name to mislead its readers, which is why the American company’s case was nullified. The court, however, dismissed the petition from the Italian for his former employer to pay up his attorney fees.
“The Book recounts Steiner’s experiences as team principal of the Haas F1 Team during the 2022 season,” the court documents read as per Planet Network. “Using photos that include the Haas marks is an artistic choice to provide additional context about the 2022 season with the Haas F1 Team.
“Here, there is no explicit indication, overt claim, or explicit misstatement that the ‘source of the work’ is Haas Automation. While there’s an argument the photo on the cover implicitly suggests endorsement or sponsorship, there is no explicitly misleading statement or suggestion by way of the Haas marks.
“Accordingly, defendants’ use here of the Haas marks is protected under Rogers. Defendants’ motion is therefore granted.” The case above seems to have closed off, but another one still continues on as noted above, with regards to Steiner seeking unpaid commission from Haas.
Here’s some details: https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/53370360/Haas_Automation,_Inc_v_Steiner_et_al
Here’s court filing from Haas against Guenther Steiner
Here’s court filing from Guenther Steiner against Haas
Here’s Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen on Singapore GP
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