Rich Energy loses legal battle over copying logo
F1 Live | F1 Replay | F1 Standings |
Rich Energy, the title sponsor of the Haas Formula 1 team, has lost a legal battle over its stag logo after being adjudged to have copied the design of a bicycle company.
Rich Energy became the title sponsor of Haas ahead of the 2019 season after an unsuccessful attempt by owner William Storey to buy the old Force India operation midway through 2018.
However, the energy drink company has been fighting a legal battle against Whyte Bikes after being accused of copying its stag logo, with the case being ruled on at the High Court in London on Tuesday.
Whyte Bikes sought as part of the copyright infringement claim for “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,” as per the judge’s report.
Judge Melissa Clarke said that both Storey and Sean Kelly – the founder of StaxoWeb Ltd where the design originated – were “poor witnesses” and had “misled” the court, having claimed they were not aware of the Whyte Bikes logo.
cmgAdQueuePush( function(){ AccelerateAdManager.displayAd(“inarticle2”); });
“I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that both Mr Kelly and Mr Storey have lied about not being familiar with C’s Device [Whyte’s logo],” Clarke said in her final report.
“I find it more likely than not that they were familiar with it, and that they directly and knowingly copied C’s Device in designing D1’s Device [Rich Energy logo].”
cmgAdQueuePush( function(){ AccelerateAdManager.displayAd(“ad-mpu-1-mobile”); });
The Hastings-based Whyte Bikes is now entitled to an injunction and damages, as well as a declaration of invalidity. Rich Energy is entitled to appeal, with matters being adjourned until a hearing on June 27.
has approached Haas for comment following this ruling.
For motorsport news follow TRmotosports on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRmotosports
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TRmotosports
Instagram: https://instagram.com/trmotosports/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trmotosports-com