Ford wants Ferrari to stop using F150 name

Until late January, when Ferrari launched their 2011 F1 car, the name F150 immediately conjured up images of hillbillies chowing down some grits for breakfast before heading off to… well, let’s not go there, lest Ford’s lawyers come our way as well. The point being Ford’s F-series truck range is well known the world over. And it just so happens the F-150, launched in 1975, is the most successful model in that range.

Ferrari has put noses seriously out of joint at Dearborn by calling their latest F1 car the F150. Last year it was the F10, so it stood to reason this year’s car would be known as the F11. However, 2011 marks 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification. So, it also seems perfectly reasonable for such an iconic brand like Ferrari to honour that occasion by referring to it in the name of their ultimate automotive creation.

Well, too bad, say Ford and they are currently suing Ferrari for, among other things, trademark infringement over the use of the F150 name. On the face of it, that seems fair enough. Although, the Ford allegations cite irreparable damage to it’s F-150 trademark. We’re not so sure that is really the case, but that’s for the US District Court in Detroit to decide, not us.

Further, Ford isn’t happy at Ferrari’s microsite for their F1 car—www.ferarrif150.com—and they’re submitting a US$100,000 damages claim under the US Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. They also want Ferrari to cough up any profits they earn in the US by using the F150 name.

This could get interesting, we’ll keep a watching brief and wait to see what happens next.

[Source: The Detroit News]