Haas sues former Formula 1 Team Principal for copyright violations
Haas has initiated legal action against former Formula 1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner for alleged violations of copyright regulations in his autobiography titled ‘Surviving to Drive’. Steiner had previously sued Haas for unpaid funds and unauthorized use of his image. However, Haas Automation, the parent company of the F1 team, claims that Steiner and publisher Ten Speed Press used images that infringe copyright rules.
According to court documents filed in the Central District of California, Western Division, Steiner published, marketed, and sold the book ‘Surviving to Drive’ without obtaining permission from Haas Automation. The book allegedly illegally used and displayed Haas Automation’s Trademarks and Visual Identity for Steiner’s personal financial gain. Haas Automation asserts that it never consented to Steiner using its intellectual property in his publication.
Despite Haas reaching out to express concerns, Steiner did not respond, leading to the initiation of legal action. Haas seeks compensation based on the revenue generated by Steiner with the book and has requested a jury trial to resolve the matter.
Haas Automation claims that Steiner continues to sell and promote the book through various media, including print and digital, which violates their exclusive intellectual property rights. Online sources indicate that as of January 2024, the book has sold over 150,000 units and generated revenue exceeding $4,500,000.
Steiner served as Team Principal of Haas since its founding in 2016. However, team owner Gene Haas chose not to renew Steiner’s contract due to poor performance, resulting in the team finishing last in the championship.
