Last Updated on September 28 2024, 8:11 am

Former Haas team boss wins copyright battle against US racing team. Court rules in favour of Steiner in dispute over book content – In a significant legal victory, former Formula One team principal Günther Steiner has won a copyright case brought against him by his former employer, the US-based Haas Formula One team.

The case, which centred on the inclusion of images of the Haas team logo in Steiner’s book, was dismissed by Judge Andre Birotte Jr of the Central District Court in California.

 

 

The dispute arose after Haas claimed that Steiner’s book, entitled *”Surviving to Drive – A Year in Formula 1″*, improperly used images of the team’s logo and mark in a way that infringed their copyright.

Haas sought damages, arguing that the book exploited the Haas brand for commercial gain.

However, the court ruled that Steiner’s use of the images was legitimate and did not infringe copyright laws, marking a victory for the former team principal.

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Court’s verdict: Images were artistically relevant

In his ruling, Mr Justice Birotte said that Steiner’s book, which detailed his experiences as team principal of Haas during a Formula One season, required him to mention the team and therefore to use relevant images.

The judge noted that it was natural for Steiner to include content relating to the Haas team as the book focused on his tenure there.

Birotte explained that the images used in the book were “artistically relevant” to Steiner’s narrative and in line with typical practices seen in many sports biographies. The judge further clarified that while the book contains Haas-related images, there is no misleading information suggesting that Haas contributed to or endorsed the book.

In his comments, Judge Birotte addressed concerns raised by Haas about the potential for readers to misunderstand the book’s association with the team, stating: “It could be argued that the cover image implies an endorsement or sponsorship by Haas, but there are no misleading statements or references to the Haas marks.”

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Minor setback for Steiner: Legal fees uncovered

While Steiner emerged victorious in the copyright dispute, the court rejected his request to have his legal costs covered.

According to the judge, legal fees are only awarded in “exceptional circumstances” and Steiner’s case did not meet that threshold. His application for reimbursement was described as brief and failed to explain the exceptional circumstances that would justify the reimbursement of his legal costs.

This minor setback means that Steiner will have to pay for his legal fees, despite his overall success in the case.

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The background to Steiner’s book: “Surviving to Drive”

Steiner’s book, *”Surviving to Drive – A Year in Formula 1″*, was published in German on 17 November 2023. The title is a playful reference to the popular Netflix series *”Drive to Survive”*, which has captivated audiences and raised the global profile of Formula 1.

Through the series, Steiner has become known for his blunt and often colourful language, gaining a reputation as one of the more outspoken figures in the paddock.

Since stepping down as Haas team principal at the end of the 2023 season, Steiner has maintained a presence in the F1 world. He now works as a television commentator and pundit, appearing on German broadcasters Sky and RTL. In addition to his media work, Steiner serves as an ambassador for the Miami Grand Prix, a role that reflects his continued connection to motorsport despite his retirement from team management.

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Haas and Steiner to meet again in court

Although the copyright dispute has been resolved, Steiner’s legal entanglements with Haas are far from over. Another lawsuit is currently pending in which Steiner is suing his former employer for what he claims are unpaid commission payments.

Steiner claims that Haas still owes him money from the 2021 to 2023 seasons and has accused the team of using his image and persona for promotional activities and merchandise sales without proper compensation.

This second case is still in its early stages and is not expected to be resolved until 2025, meaning that the legal battle between Steiner and Haas is far from over.

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Haas moves forward under new leadership

Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Haas has moved forward with significant changes since Steiner’s departure. Under the leadership of Ayao Komatsu, who took over as team principal in 2024, Haas has made significant progress in the Formula One standings.

After finishing last in 2023 with just twelve points, the team has already scored 31 points two-thirds of the way through the 2024 season, thanks in part to more consistent technical updates to its cars.

The team has also made decisions regarding its driver line-up for the 2025 season. Esteban Ocon, formerly of Alpine, and Oliver Bearman, a rising star from the Ferrari Academy, will take the two Haas cockpits. This marks a new era for Haas, with long-time driver Kevin Magnussen retiring from the sport and Nico Hülkenberg moving to Sauber/Audi.

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A legal victory, but challenges remain

While Steiner’s courtroom victory over Haas has provided a respite, his legal battle with the team is far from over. With another lawsuit on the horizon, the tensions between the former team principal and his old employer remain unresolved. Nevertheless, both parties appear to be going their separate ways, with Steiner’s post-Haas career in the media world flourishing and Haas making progress on the track under new leadership.

Whether the two will reconcile or continue their legal battle remains to be seen.

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