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Liberty Media is still racing into trademark trouble over F1's new logo.
In January, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt revealed that the new logo "bears a striking resemblance" to an existing 'F' logo already registered by the stationary company 3M for a range of compression tights.
"We are looking into this matter further," a 3M spokesman said then.
Still in the Daily Telegraph, Sylt is now reporting that 3M has lodged opposition to F1's logo trademark application, based on the "likelihood of confusion" with the tights brand.
Official opposition was lodged on May 22, and Sylt said Europe's intellectual property office normally takes up to four months to rule.
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
Replies (10)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
The logo isnt particularly goodlooking, so if its infringing they might aswell just revert to the old one... Or actually make a new one that isnt made with a hard to read text format.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
Besynnerligt att inte Gudrun Schyman också gnällt då logon mer ser ut som FI än F1.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Hehe hade hon vart medveten om den så hade det säkerligen kommit en och annan pik från henne.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Ridiculous. Reminds me of the protest lodged by Ford when Ferrari named their car F-150. Because it could "cause confusion"
At least we were talking about cars in that case. Here were talking about tights?
krommenaas
Posts: 155
It's almost the exact same logo. Of course 3M doesn't give a shit about that, but they can't just pass on the opportunity to gain financial gain from it.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Its not entirely the rivaling company's fault though. Trademark and copyright laws are very weird, so you have to defend your brands desperately, because if you allow one in others will follow suit. So if they want to retain their trademark, better file those infringements, or else you might lose it to gerenicide. This is why so many on Youtube are so prone on content claiming (in part).
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
The logos are similar, but "likelihood of confusion" Come on.. that's preposterous. I get the importance of protecting trademarks. But I also seriously doubt that what 3M has can be protected beyond the scope of similar products. Their logo is not much of a thing, what's there to trademark if not it's usage associated with that kind of product. Furthermore, Formula 1's logo is "F1" not just "F." Anyway, I really got diverted into this nonsense. Have a good evening gents.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Thats not really what they care about either, I think. All they care about is A: oh no, something looks remotely like our brand, better file for infringement so as to not risk genericide, and B: Oh, someone has made this similar to our own brand, better see if we can get some money from them. They dont necessarily need more than what they have now to sue for it, thats why I say copyright and trademark are weird. Either way, it really should be a non-issue, and I hope it gets sorted soon.
You too mate! I will have the arguable pleasure of listening to a bunch of corporate people chatting about all the games they've got for us while trying to make microtransactions in 60 dollar games and preorders look tasty and not at all d*** flavoured. E3 is weird like that. :)
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Let’s think upon similarities between F1 and tights
- both stretch things to the limit
- possibly women have at least three pairs
- they puncture easily
- they ‘should be’ sleek and attatractive to look at
- any more offers (not too crude)?
Rindtchamp
Posts: 304
Just go back to the good old logo, the new one sucks anyway and the font is ghastly.