Team Lotus, which is owned by Tony Fernandes, is facing a legal battle with Group Lotus over the rights to use his outfit’s name from the start of 2011.
He is not only involved in a court case over what he claims was an illegal termination of a five-year licencing deal he had to run as Lotus Racing, but he is also fighting an action from the sportscar manufacturer which disputes that he is not allowed to race under the Team Lotus banner either.
Group Lotus is going to court today to apply for a summary judgement over the termination of the licencing deal, which it believes means Fernandes’ operation – 1Malaysia Racing – is not allowed to continue using the Lotus name in F1.
A judge will decide whether there are grounds for a full-blown legal case, or whether the matter is so cut-and-dry that there is no need for one. The latter outcome is believed to be unlikely, however.
Even if the judge did decide that Group Lotus has a valid argument to prevent 1Malaysia Racing from using the Lotus name in its title, the ruling would almost certainly go to appeal – forcing the court case further down the road anyway.
Fernandes himself said on Monday there was no possibility of the legal situation coming out of this week’s court case preventing Team Lotus from racing under that name in 2011.
“Many confused about case today,” he wrote on his Twitter feed. “It’s not about Team Lotus name who owns it, which is in November. We brought that case to prove once and for all.
“Today’s case is Group [Lotus] desperate attempt to use their one way unlawful termination of license agreement of Lotus Racing. Saying 1Malaysia can’t use Lotus [name]. Part of post termination clauses. So nothing changes on Team Lotus.”
The court hearing is scheduled to begin at 2pm on Monday, with a verdict not expected until Tuesday
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