Ex-Formula One Principal Defeats Haas Photo Trademark Suit

Sept. 26, 2024, 9:01 PM UTC

A California federal judge threw out Haas Automation Inc.'s lawsuit accusing former Formula One team principal Guenther Steiner of infringing its trademarks in his autobiographical book.

Steiner’s use of Haas marks in “Surviving to Drive: A Year Inside Formula 1" are protected by free speech because they weren’t used to identify the source of the book and are artistically relevant, according to a Wednesday order dismissing the lawsuit in the US District Court for the Central District of California.

Judge André Birotte Jr. dismissed the complaint without leave to amend, saying Haas wouldn’t be able to demonstrate Steiner uses the ...

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