Ford suing Ferrari over use of F150 name

[Aerospeed]

Well that didn't take long.

Took even less time than you thought. Check Page 1 of this thread about a day & a half earlier.

D'oh!

[watka]

The result; in video form: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RNbbDRdvBw

America, f-bomb YEAH!

[DanielPT]

The result; in video form: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RNbbDRdvBw

America, f-bomb YEAH!

Oh sweet irony. Maybe that is why Ferrari changed the name of the car. Ford sent that video to Ferrari!

[captainhappy]

F-150 . . . . . . . . I always had trouble with leaking dual fuel tanks on mine. Couple of rubber washer tapping screws, gingerly threaded into the pinhole leaks did the trick.

Total Dork move by Ford to sue.

Devils Advocate:

Kind of goes to show how "foreign" North America is to the business of F1. No clue how strange the F-150 moniker would sound to North Americans, where the F150 name is culturally ubiquitous.

[thehemogoblin]

F-150 . . . . . . . . I always had trouble with leaking dual fuel tanks on mine. Couple of rubber washer tapping screws, gingerly threaded into the pinhole leaks did the trick.

Total Dork move by Ford to sue.

Devils Advocate:

Kind of goes to show how "foreign" North America is to the business of F1. No clue how strange the F-150 moniker would sound to North Americans, where the F150 name is culturally ubiquitous.

It's not like the Ferrari is going to be a dog, either. They really just screwed themselves out of a little subliminal advertising. Ferrari was the one with everything to lose.

[unixgeek13]

one of the things about trademarks is this... if you do not defend your trademark in one case, you are potentially opening the door for other people to claim an easement, which could possibly make your trademark indefensible. As the owner of a Ford F150 (not the Ferrari F150italia), I doubt there would be any confusion when ordering parts or scheduling service. However; failing to defend your trademarks is a big no-no, no matter how goofy it might make you look.

just my two cents worth.

[TomWazzleshaw]

This is just getting ridiculous

[Jordan192]

one of the things about trademarks is this... if you do not defend your trademark in one case, you are potentially opening the door for other people to claim an easement, which could possibly make your trademark indefensible. As the owner of a Ford F150 (not the Ferrari F150italia), I doubt there would be any confusion when ordering parts or scheduling service. However; failing to defend your trademarks is a big no-no, no matter how goofy it might make you look.

just my two cents worth.

Very much this - if Ford let the Ferrari thing go unchallenged, it could be used as a precedent in future cases even if the infringment is more clear-cut. Given the choice between knowingly making yourselves look foolish, and potentially losing control of a Trademark, most companies will take the (in the long run) lesser PR hit of the former.

[Ferrim]

This is just getting ridiculous

But the name "Ferrari 150º" looks better than "Ferrari F150th", to me at least.

[Dan B]

This is just getting ridiculous

What happens when you see the Ferrari?

You turn 150 degrees and walk away.

[DanielPT]

This is just getting ridiculous

What happens when you see the Ferrari?

You turn 150 degrees and walk away.

Perhaps it is a subtle way of telling us that this year car overheats?

[Phoenix]

This is just getting ridiculous

What happens when you see the Ferrari?

You turn 150 degrees and walk away.

Perhaps it is a subtle way of telling us that this year car overheats?

Felipe Massa would like to have some words with you...

[Ridge Racer]

This is such a stupid lawsuit on so many levels.

Firstly Ferrari chose the name F150 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of modern Italian statehood.

And secondly why would a company as highly respected in the automotive world as Ferrari feel the need to "steal" the name of an american pick-up truck?

[Myrvold]

And, why, why would Ford use the chance to get more PR for them and the truck, oh wait