Ford sues Ferrari over F150 car name

Ferrari named their 2011 car the ‘F150’. The ‘F150’ has been part of Ford’s pickup range for the last sixty years.

The Maranello squad wanted to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the unification of Italy with the name, but Ford contests that the label is identical to one of its F-Series pickup models.

With the company taking legal action in Detroit, Michigan, it is believed to be placing particular emphasis on the www.FerrariF150.com website.

‘F-150® is an established and important Ford trademark and the name of the best-seller in Ford’s F-Series, America’s best-selling trucks for 34 years and best-selling vehicles for 29 years,’reads a Wednesday statement from Ford.

‘Through extensive sales and advertising and exclusive use, Ford has earned invaluable goodwill in the F-150® trademark. That hard-won goodwill is seriously threatened by Ferrari’s adoption of 'F150.'

When Ferrari announced the name of its race car as 'F150,' Ford asked Ferrari to change the name. Ferrari did not respond in a timely manner, leaving Ford no choice but to take legal action to protect its important brand and trademark rights.’