Haas files law suit against ex-team principal Guenther Steiner for breaching trademark rules

Amid the ongoing legal dispute between Haas F1 and ex-Team Principal Guenther Steiner over an employment code breach, Haas has sued Steiner in another case with charges related to trademark violations. 

In a court document submitted to Central District of California, West Division, Haas revealed that Steiner used some images in his ‘Surviving to Drive’ autobiography which allegedly violates copyright and trademark law. 

The document reads, “In 2023, without permission or consent from Haas Automation, Steiner authored, marketed, promoted, sold, distributed, and profited from a publication titled “Surviving to Drive” (the “Accused Product”), which unlawfully used and displayed, and continues to use and display, the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress for Steiner’s financial gain and illicit profit.” 

“Haas Automation never consented to Steiner’s use of the Haas Automation Trademarks or the Haas Automation Trade Dress on the Accused Product.”

Haas gave a notice of removal too! 

The court document further revealed that the F1 team gave notice to Guenther Steiner before moving to court to remove all these images. However, to date, he failed to do so and it prompted Haas to take legal action. “Haas Automation gave pre-lawsuit notice to Steiner but to date Steiner has taken no action to cease or mitigate his infringing acts, necessitating the instant lawsuit,” it said.

“Steiner sells and promotes the Accused Product in various mediums, including without limitation print and digital, in violation of Haas Automation’s exclusive intellectual property rights. Information available online indicates that as of January 2024, the Accused Product has exceeded sales of at least 150,000 units and generated revenue of at least $4,500,000”, it further added. 

It’s worth noting that Steiner led Haas since 2016, but Gene Haas decided not to renew his contract due to the team's last-place slump in the championship in 2023. Since then both parties have been involved in a couple of court cases.