Ferrari Backs Down to Ford Over Trademark Dispute

Topics:  Ferrari, , Ford Motor CompanyFerrari F150th Italia, Ford F-150

VOA Breaking News
Voice of America
February 10, 2011 at 9:30 pm

Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari has agreed to use the full name of its new Formula One race car following a trademark dispute with American automaker Ford.

In a statement Thursday, Ferrari said it had not used the abbreviated F150 name commercially but would refer to the car in all areas of operation by its full name, the “Ferrari F150th Italia.” The race car's name celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification.

Ford sued Ferrari in Detroit federal court Wednesday contending the Italian carmaker had violated its trademark over the pickup truck name F-150. Ford has been using the F-150 name since 1975 and has had a trademark on it since 1995. The Ford F-150 truck is one of the company's most popular vehicles.

A Ford spokesperson said that the motive behind the lawsuit was to prevent the Ford F-150 brand from being “diluted.” Ferrari said it was “very difficult to understand Ford's viewpoint on the matter,” believing its race car “cannot be confused with any other types of commercially available vehicle.”

The Formula One season starts March 13 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir.