F1 in huge row with stationery company over new logo

The new F1 logo was put the sword by F1 fans after Liberty Media dished it out in November last year to mark the shift in era.

The earlier logo has stood the test of time for 23 long years and became synonymous with the sport during all those years.

So, obviously when the new logo was unveiled in Abu Dhabi last year, it wasn’t well received by the F1 fraternity.

And now the the F1 logo has encountered a massive problem, as stationery company 3M has lodged a complaint against the F1 logo, as it looks strikingly similar to their brand’s logo that appears on  Futuro range of therapeutic clothing.

Now, any of F1’s merchandise can’t really have it logo on as 3M had applied for the trademark way earlier and because F1’s logo is so similar to 3M’s, 3M can sue F1 for using its logo.

3M had actually applied for a trademark on its logo on the 17th of February 2017, as confirmed by the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The logo was registered 4 months later.

F1 on the other hand had applied for the trademark in November 2017, giving 3M an upper hand.

Now, according to the trademark laws, 3M “is entitled to prevent all third parties that do not have his or her consent from using the same or similar signs for identical or related goods and/or services.”, according to the EUIPO.

The application submitted by F1 actually covers just 26 of the 45 categories which logos can be registered in.

3M’s logo is registered in therapeutic clothing and that is what the problem is all about.

3M had lodged a complaint with the EUIPO on May 22nd and a ruling form EUIPO is still awaited but if they rule in favour of 3M, F1 will not be able to use its logo on its clothing merchandise.