Steiner Strikes Back: Haas F1 Team Chief Emerges Victorious in High-Stakes Court Battle
Günther Steiner Wins Court Battle with Haas F1 Team
Günther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team boss, has emerged victorious in a court case against Haas Automation, the parent company of the Haas F1 team. The lawsuit, which centered on trademark infringement in Steiner’s book “Surviving to Drive,” has been dropped.
Haas Automation had claimed that Steiner used the brand and images, including the team logo, without official authorization. However, Steiner maintained that all content used was fair use, did not violate copyright law, and was protected by the Fifth Amendment.
A US judge ruled in Steiner’s favor, stating that the book’s use of the Haas F1 logo was “not patently misleading” and was protected by the Rogers Act. The court documents noted that the book reflects on Steiner’s experience as team principal of the Haas F1 Team for the 2022 season.
The use of photographs containing Haas branding was deemed an artistic choice to provide additional background information about the 2022 Haas F1 Team season. The court also found that there was no explicit indication, overt statement, or misrepresentation that the ‘source of the work’ is Haas Automation.
Steiner was the principal of the Haas F1 Team from its inception in 2016 until the end of the 2023 season, when Haas CEO Gene Haas decided not to renew his contract. Since then, Steiner has remained in the spotlight as a commentator on RTL and other commercial television programs.
Category: F1 / Haas F1 Team