The law says I can’t open a restaurant and call it “McDonald’s.”
I don’t know why, because that’s my name, but the law says otherwise.
So Ferrari introduced its 2011 single-seat racing car and called it the F150 and that’s got Ford all upset because the name of their best-selling pickup truck is the F150.
Ford apparently thinks there could be confusion in the marketplace. People might mistake a Formula One car for a truck and we can’t have that, can we?
The lawsuit, filed in Detroit (and didn’t the place look wonderful in that Super Bowl commercial?) said the action was based on Ferrari's naming of its new car the "F150" and its creation of the website www.ferrarif150.com
Ford said its trademark is being harmed and the suit asks the court to block Ferrari from using the trademark in the United States (presumably on telecasts of F1 races there, since Ferrari and Formula One don’t race in the U.S. at present).
Ford is also apparently seeking unspecified damages from Ferrari.
Ferrari, in response, has started to call the car the “Ferrari F150th Italia,” arguing that the F150 referred to the 150th anniversary of Italian unification and had nothing to do with an American truck anyway.
Somebody, I will write an essay about how there are too many people in the world with not enough to do. They spend all their time justifying their existence. It is why we are drowning in red tape and why there are lawsuits like this one.
And why McDonald’s won’t let me open a restaurant and use my own name.
I own an F150 Ford and I find this just supid.
Ford should have worked out a deal to help market the truck with the F1 car in return for the rights.
The ban based on pure copy law is very, very poor marketing.
It also pisses customers like me off!
Collin - Canada
Posted by: Collin | 02/10/2011 at 04:17 PM
Juvenile, pathetic ... can't even think of the right word for this. On the other hand, I'll bet Ferrari was thrilled beyond belief to discover their shiny new machine was being associated with a Ford pickup!
Posted by: David | 02/10/2011 at 08:18 PM
One word ...LAWYERS!
Ford's legal beagles must be having a slow day. Hey Norris I just thought of something. If I bought a red F150 pickup... paint Ferrari on it maybe I could convince some of the fairer sex I had a Ferrari.
Posted by: clive rayman | 02/11/2011 at 12:10 PM
I don't know - as soon as I heard that Ferrari was calling the new car the F150, the first thing I thought was; "Isn't that taken?"
Posted by: Jo Green | 02/11/2011 at 02:41 PM