Breaking news
Formula 1
Haas F1 title sponsor Rich loses court case over logo
Haas Formula 1 team title sponsor Rich Energy Ltd and its CEO William Storey have lost a court case over a copyright infringement claim filed by specialist bicycle manufacturer Whyte Bikes.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Jul 21, 2022, 7:18 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Sussex-based company took action to defend its stag logo, claiming that the Rich Energy logo was a copy of its own, and was being used without authorisation.
As well as its presence on drink cans, the stag logo features prominently on the 2019 Haas car, as well as as on the helmets of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean.
The judgement in effect means that Rich Energy can no longer use the stag logo in any form. However, in response the company says that it may submit an appeal.
The case, in which Rich Energy’s logo designer Sean Kelly was also a defendant via his Staxoweb Ltd company, was heard in March at the High Court in London. Her honour Judge Melissa Clarke delivered her judgement today in a 58-page document.
In the very first paragraph Judge Clarke states: “This is judgment in a copyright infringement claim. What is sought, amongst other things, is an injunction which would require the removal of the logo of the First Defendant, Rich Energy Limited, from the Formula 1 race car and website of the Rich Energy Haas Formula 1 motor racing team.”
She concludes that the defendants did indeed infringe Whyte’s copyright, and that “the Claimant is entitled to injunctive relief and for damages or an account of profits at its election.”
Whyte noted that it had used its stag logo since 2008. In their evidence, the defendants said the Rich logo was designed in 2015, after extensive internet searches for stag logos, but they insisted that it was not inspired by Whyte’s version.
In her judgement Judge Clarke made it clear that she did not agree with Storey and Kelly’s explanation of how its logo was originated, noting “the Defendants’ evidence on independent design is at best, in my judgment, confused and contradictory and purports to be supported by documents which are not what they seem.”
In a statement reacting to the outcome of the legal case, Rich Energy CEO Storey was quoted as saying: "I am disappointed in the ruling and felt the material facts
speak for themselves.
"However this is a blip and won’t distract us from the tremendous progress
being made. We are considering our legal options, including appeal, we will not allow it to become a distraction."
A Haas F1 spokesman said the team was unable to comment on any possible changes to its livery at this stage.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mercedes has "good ideas" to improve record-breaking W10
Next article Bottas quickest by 1.4s on first day of Barcelona F1 test
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
More from
Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon's F1 career may be ending, but his story is one of success
Formula 1
Formula 1
Esteban Ocon's F1 career may be ending, but his story is one of success
Rafael Camara to debut in F1 Brazil GP as Esteban Ocon out at Haas
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Rafael Camara to debut in F1 Brazil GP as Esteban Ocon out at Haas
Latest news
How young can a Formula 1 world champion actually be?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 min
How young can a Formula 1 world champion actually be?
Sebastien Ogier tipped for partial WRC 2027 programme
WRC
WRC WRC 2 h
Sebastien Ogier tipped for partial WRC 2027 programme
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Kimi Antonelli almost had to retire in Mexico due to an oil leak
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
Kimi Antonelli almost had to retire in Mexico due to an oil leak
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe