Only Group Lotus can use the name "Lotus", as in Lotus Renault. Fernandes's team can continue with the name "Team Lotus". Group Lotus has been awarded damages for breach of licence agreement (Team Lotus can't use the name "Lotus Racing"). I guess it means it's "as you were, chaps." Team Lotus shell out but don't have to rebrand themselves as Caterham Racing, for now at least - Group Lotus have said they'll appeal. EDIT I think Group Lotus only are entitled to continue using the logo. sniffpetrol has the summary about right:
I know but it seems Group lotus have got what they wanted from it but there are more arguments to be settled.
The whole thing is a joke, you can't have two Lotus teams in F1. I say leave Lotus where it is, in the past. 'Team Lotus' should rename themselves Malaysia Racing, or Caterham Racing or whatever, and 'Group Lotus/Lotus Renault' should rename themselves Proton Renault.
I can't say I'm that interested either way. I think Team Lotus running in the racing green Lotus colours and Renault running in the JPS Lotus colours are as daft as each other.
Why is everybody obsessed about a ****ing name? I know it's one of the biggest names in motorsport history, but neither of the teams is in any way related to the Lotus team of the '60s, so what is th point?
That sounds like Orc mischief to me. I'm a bit confused now about this whole defendants trying to stop the plaintiffs from doing something. I haven't followed the case closely because it's boring so maybe there was a degree of claim and counterclaim, but a defendant doesn't initiate court action against a plaintiff.
Group Lotus's appeal against the court ruling has been rejected. Bloody good job, too - it was a waste of money first time round.
So has anything changed really? Team Lotus are still Team Lotus and Lotus Renault are still Lotus Renault. Team Lotus still drive around advertising the Lotus name and Lotus Renault are still likely not to get permission to change their chassis name. I hope Team Lotus change to Caterham next year. The whole Lotus thing leaves a sour taste really.
According to Joe Saward, 'Group Lotus has now filed suit against Fernandes and his partners for confusing customers by buying Caterham'. Will this never end?
lmao. next: Group Lotus to sue Fernandes for having the name Tony which could be confused as being branding of Lotus
How can they have a case? What business is it of theirs what companies he buys? Is it in the agreement that he has to cease commercial activities?
Team Lotus Caterham Renault Air Asia, bit of a mouthful. Never thought I'd see Caterhams name on a F1 grid, what a boost for the companies profile!
Three cheers for Caterham ! - This is the biggest marketing exercise in the company's history. By the way, for anyone who's not driven one, I thoroughly recommend it; they are street-legal racing cars which easily embarrass Ferrari owners (et al) who simply can't keep up…
