Bernie trying to copyright 'Grand Prix'

[paddock.one]

Did no-one else notice (Autosport 30/12/04 - page 8) that Mr E has applied to gain himself the trademark for the phrase 'Grand Prix'? OK, he has for some time owned the commercial rights to the name 'Formula One' and has had an enormous amount of success marketing it - no other sport uses the term. The description 'Grand Prix', however, has been used to promote the premier category of motorsport since the British Grand Prix in May 1950 - somewhat before BCE's involvement in the sport, let alone his taking control and re-naming it. This is obviously a ploy to head off the proposed GPWC by preventing them using the name - do we think he should be allowed to own and control the name 'Grand Prix' ?

[Adam43]

The application started some years ago (four or five?). Grand Prix has been used a lot longer than since the world championship. The first GP was held at Le Mans in 1906. It also applies to events other than Formula One. Even in Motorsport other series use the term F1 for races they hold. I am surprised that it can be trademarked in some ways because of this, however it depends on the specifics of what he is trademarking.

The idea behind trademarks is to stop others gaining in success of something that you have developed without them having anything directly to do with the you. In a way that is what is happening! From a certain point of view!

What is it he is trying to actually gain the trademark for? The words Grand Prix, but in what context?

[Teretonga]

There is Grand Prix tennis and horse racing, showjumping, road race cycling... Who does Ecclestone think he is! The FIA did not coin the original term, it existed before the FIA was formed...

Wake up Bernie, this is ridiculous...

[Kicking-back]

The usual Bernie bashing will no doubt follow, but as Adam says, this is a five-year-old story.

Bernie is simply trying to protect the term "Grand Prix" in terms of World Championship Motor Racing.

[1200Datto27]

And Formula One is not used exclusively by Bernie, as there is a Formula One Powerboat series, unless they have an agreement with him to use it.

[Wrex]

As KB already mentioned, his 'Formula One' ownership and proposed 'Grand Prix' naming rights would be exclusively for World Championship Motor Racing, and IMHO, he should get it.

But as was also mentioned, we wont let facts get in the way of a good Bernie bash.

[Nicholosophy]

I think there should be a point where the FIA and others in the motorsport fraternaty look at things and wonder whether it is to the benefit of racing for people (not just BE) to own suchs things.

I don't have an answer either way, but maybe folks have some views for or against ownership of the term Grand Prix, or Formula One for that matter.

Let it be noted that I'm not looking for BE bashers, but people with serious comments,

[Kempi]

You can apply for trademarks in specific areas. That way "Formula One" could be a trademark in auto racing but not in boat racing or there even could be another trademark for Formula One in boat racing.

[Adam43]

Who (or which company) is Bernie trying to get "Grand Prix" for? The FIA probably should have it, but then the commercial side of the FIA has to be separate from the regulatory side (due to a EU ruling). My guess is that one of the commercial companies, with which Bernie is iinvolved in, is trying to achieve this.

[Dixie Flatline]

If you run a search at the United Kingdom Patents & Trade Marks Office, you will see that a company called Formula One Licensing B.V. of Rokin 55, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1012 KK, has applied on 24 August 2000 to trade mark, "GRAND PRIX" in classes 9, 12, 16, 25, 28, 35, 36, 38, 41, and 42.

Class 9 deals with scientific, photographic, cinematographic, optical and other instruments, apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images, magnetic data carriers, recording discs, autometic vending machines, cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers, sound and video recordings, computer software, computer games, films, all the aforesaid goods relating to or to be associated with Formula One motor racing championships;

Class 12 deals with vehicles, and apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water, parts and fittings for all of the aforesaid goods, but tyres, and all aforesaid goods relating to or to be associated with Formula One motor racing championships;

Class 16 deals with paper, cardboard and goods, printed matter, bookbinding material, photographs, stationery, artists' materials, etc;

Class 25 is clothing, footwear and headgear;

Class 28 includes games and playthings, gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes, computer games, etc;

Class 35 includes advertising, business management, business administration, office functions, business services relating to sponsorship, business services in relation to motor land racing, advertising in connection with motor land racing and business, promoting sporting events and motor land racing events, advertising and business relating to motor racing on land;

Class 36 includes sponsorship services;

Class 38 deals with radio and TV broadcasting, satellite and cable broadcasting, including via digital networks, the internet and interactive services, broadcasting and webcasting services, telecommunication services, electronic transmission of data, images and sound via computer terminals and networks;

Class 41 deals with education and training, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities, arranging and producing sporting events, motor land racing events, gambling, betting and gaming services, ticket sales and agency services;

Class 41 deals with the provision of food and drink, temporary accommodation, medical, hygienic and beauty care, veterinary and agricultural services, legal services, scientific and industrial research, computer programming and services, software design and development services, and arrangement of licences for recording sporting events.

[Adam43]

Thanks for that Dixie Flatline. Their website is exellent. There are the results of decisions on a lot of motor racing trademarks. Lotus, ChannelF1 and more...

[RWC]

There once was a time when the fia was seen as the legitimate governing body for all motorsport.The fia was composed of members voted in by the various motor racing clubs around the world.
It was trully a democtratic organisation commited to motor sport (it didn't allways get things right but no big deal)

Then bernie and max conspired to take over the fia.It took a few years but gradually f1 became something to be owned and controlled for the benefit of two people.
Where f1 used to be the premier category not belonging to anyone,to be held in trust by the fia,now it was 'just another brand' that has been given over completely to one man to do whith as he pleases
..and he pleases to sell it off and make HUGE amounts of money from it while starving the sport of what belongs to it.

Max is in it for the power -allthough i can't see how powerfull he feels making pitifull decisions like the grooved tyre rubbish (a ten year old could tell you why a grooved tyre is nothing like driving in the wet max),or giving his mate a hundred year rights to something that doesn't belong to him
Bernie is in it for the money -That has been proven time and again.H*ll even those cases where he has 'helped' the poor teams out was just to save money for himself!-If the number of cars on the grid droped too far it's HE that would have to pay out huge amounts to the race organisers

Nothing will ever go right in this sport until those two are turfed out on the ears

[Adam43]

and Max keeps getting voted in...

Anyway, trademarking "Grand Prix"...

[perfectly_frank]

I think that Bernie is trying to beat the manufacturers to the phrase "Grand Prix". If the breakaway series does happen, won't the GPWC have to license the use of that phrase? In this way, he can still profit from that series after Formula 1 expires. It seems to me that Bernie is playing the long game.

[climb]

*runs at the trademark registry office to get the copyright of:
- Racing
- Motorsport
- Pit stop
- Oversteering
- Chicane
- Briatore

.. and orders a Ferrari to be bought with the huge consequents proceeds*

[Gnomex]

Originally Posted by climb

*runs at the trademark registry office to get the copyright of:
- Racing
- Motorsport
- Pit stop
- Oversteering
- Chicane
- Briatore

.. and orders a Ferrari to be bought with the huge consequents proceeds*

and:-

- Grid
- Pole Position
- Chequered Flag
- Safety Car
- Wheels
- Tyres

Good grief! This is getting ridiculous!

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by Gnomex

and:-

- Grid
- Pole Position
- Chequered Flag
- Safety Car
- Wheels
- Tyres

Good grief! This is getting ridiculous!

Don't bother with overtaking though, but I'll be they'll let you have technological parade

[paddock.one]

Ooh, I seem to have opened a can of worms here (this is the first time I've opened a new thread on 10/10ths - am usually on the marshals' forum, but this got me going and it seemed more appropriate to F1). No, I'm not necessarily a Bernie-basher - he's done a lot to promote F1 and has become very rich by his efforts but this seemed a step too far - obviously a spoiler to prevent the manufacturers' rival GPWC from using the name. I wasn't aware that this had been going on for some time (thanks for the correction, Adam A) but I thought this impending problem should be aired. Thanks to Dixie F for such detailed research, will be interested to look at that too...

[Logrence]

I think it's funny - and why shouldn't he steal a march on the GPWC? He's playing with them it seems.

[Adam43]

paddock.one, thanks for the thread. We are a bit rah rah rah rah!

Logrence has a good point. "Bernie" is doing it, which means that a company involved with F1 is doing it (albeit the commercial side). The other alternative would probably be the manufacturers doing it when they set up GPWC. Aren't these evil too? The only difference is that Bernie isn't as inept as the manufacturers in getting things done (which is why the teams loved Bernie sorting these things out for them in teh first place).