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Lawsuit seeks to block use of Italian trademark in U.S.

Detroit— Ford Motor Co. sued luxury automaker Ferrari in federal court Wednesday, accusing the exotic sports car company of cybersquatting and trademark infringement for allegedly misappropriating the famous F-150 name.

The lawsuit stems from Ferrari naming its new Formula 1 racing car the "F150," according to paperwork filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

Ford has suffered irreparable harm to its F-150 trademark, the lawsuit says, and the Dearborn automaker's legal team wants a judge to block Ferrari from using the trademark in the United States. That includes importing, manufacturing or selling any product that uses the F-150 name.

Ford also wants unspecified damages and for Ferrari to give up any revenue and profits earned in the United States through the use of the F-150 name, according to the lawsuit filed by Southfield lawyer Marc Lorelli. And Ford wants $100,000 in damages pursuant to the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, which protects against Internet domain names that confuse the public over the true source of products and services.

Ford has used the F-150 name on its flagship, full-size pickup trucks since the 1975 model year.

"This is an important trademark for us and we've spent many years and lots of advertising resources on establishing this name and getting the trademark," Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said. "It's one we take very, very seriously. It's one of our flagship vehicles."

The automaker obtained a trademark registration for F-150 in 1995, according to the lawsuit. Since 1997, gross revenues for the F-150 have topped $180 billion.

The lawsuit comes days after Ferrari announced it was naming the new Formula 1 race car the "F150," which is a nod to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, according to the automaker's website.

"When Ferrari announced the name of its race car as 'F150,' Ford asked Ferrari to change the name," Gattari said. "Ferrari did not respond in a timely manner, leaving Ford no choice but to take legal action to protect its important brand and trademark rights."
UPDATE!!

Ferrari drops F150 name for race car after Ford sues

Detroit— Luxury automaker Ferrari has agreed to stop using the F150 name to refer to its new Formula 1 racing car.

The move comes a day after Ford Motor Co. sued Ferrari in U.S. District Court in Detroit, accusing the exotic sports car company of cybersquatting and trademark infringement for allegedly misappropriating the famous F-150 name of Ford's top-selling pickup.

Ferrari said it is difficult to understand how someone could confuse Ford's hulking truck with a race car.

The lawsuit stems from Ferrari naming its new Formula 1 racing car the "F150" and creating the website www.ferrarif150.com, according to paperwork filed in federal court.

Last month, Ferrari announced it was naming the new Formula 1 race car the F150, a nod to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

"To further prove it is acting in good faith and that it operates in a completely correct manner, Ferrari has decided to ensure that in all areas of operation, the abbreviated version will be replaced at all times with the full version, Ferrari F150th Italia," Ferrari said in a statement today.

In its lawsuit, Ford asked for unspecified damages. Ford said it had suffered irreparable harm to its F-150 trademark and the Dearborn automaker's legal team wants a judge to block Ferrari from using the trademark in the United States. That includes importing, manufacturing or selling any product that uses the F-150 name.

Ferrari said the F150 name will never grace a commercially available product.

"Ferrari believes that its own contender in the forthcoming F1 championship cannot be confused with other types of commercially available vehicle of any sort whatsoever, nor can it give the impression that there is a link to another brand of road-going vehicle," Ferrari said in the prepared statement. "Therefore it is very difficult to understand Ford's viewpoint on the matter."
Personally I think Ford should have left it alone. I don't see anything wrong if an F150 could be mistaken for a Ferrari!
Ford is pretty touchy about it's property - but, as a Ford fan, with due cause. Maybe Ford is coming out with some new Formula 1 racing car that will again set Ferrari back in the field - the F(formula)-150 Mach Confused
I like your thinking. It definetly wouldn't be the first time Ford kicked Ferrari's AZZ! As for the F150 thing, what's in a name? An awful lot if it's made you 180 million. Sounds like Ford doesn't want Ferrari to muddy the water. They want the Ford F 150, to be the ONLY F 150, on the planet, and who can blame them? JTS 71 Mach1
In the past Ferrari atttacked the Kit car companys over a kit car that was just as much their product line from the pasted . This car was made in the early 70ds . The car was just as much a part of the T V show as any person on the show . The show was the first Miami Vice . So a lawsuite was filled by Ferrari to stop making that Kit Car from ever being mayed again . Part of that lawsuite said Mr Buttler could not make this car any more . This Kit was damaging the real car value and that could reduce their value alot . This company had The KIt replaced on the set . All moulds were to be destoryed and any remaining cars . This car is the Ferrari Daytona Spider . Butt Ford is also sueing over any thing to do with the Mustang Trademark if it is not ( L I C E N S E D ) by them . If You Plan on making Mustang any thing . You could be in deep Do Do . Idea C.L.
The must be using Shelby's lawyers. Lmao