So Where’s the Legal Basis?
Australian Formula One Grand Prix (AFGP) organisers are planning legal action against promoters of the new A1 Grand Prix auto racing series, which is due to start next week.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation chair Ron Walker issued a statement Friday saying A1’s use of the phrase “A1 Grand Prix” infringes the corporation’s intellectual property rights.
“It is unfortunate that the matter has come to this, however, the corporation must protect its valuable intellectual property in relation to the Grand Prix.” Walker said.
The A1 series, which is being billed as the World Cup of auto racing, was devised by Sheik Maktoum Hasher Maktoum, a member of Dubai’s ruling family.
The 12 weekend series will feature 23 national teams owned and driven by local people, starting September 25 at Brands Hatch, England, and finishing April 2 2006 in Shanghai, China.
Alan Jones, the 1980 F1 drivers’ champion, is chair of the Australian A1 team. Australia will host a race at Eastern Creek, Sydney, on November 6.
All A1 cars will be the same: 550-horsepower Zytec-powered, open wheel racers that Maktoum has bought from Britain’s Lola Cars.
The Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne has been the opening stop on the F1 circuit in recent seasons, but has shifted back in the 2006 program because Melbourne is hosting the Commonwealth Games in the usual March timeslot.
Smells like Bernie “The Skunk” Eccelstone to me. Bernie and Walker are buds from way back and bernie has been unsurpassed in his ability to get others to do his dirty work, eg; Max Mosley and Ferrari.
My first point of defense would be to have Walker prove he has intellectual capacity of any kind!
It’s a strange story. None of the ones I,ve read contain any hint of what the actual complaint is other than intellectual property infringment.
The only thing I can think of is AFGP has a trademark or copyright on the A1 Grand Prix name.