In a recent legal battle, Günther Steiner, the former team boss of the Haas Formula 1 team, has been vindicated by an American court. After being dismissed ahead of the 2024 season, Steiner filed a lawsuit against the American racing team. In response, Haas sued the Italian engineer for copyright infringement, accusing him of using protected images in his successful book, Surviving to Drive.
An American judge, however, ruled in favor of Günther Steiner. Haas had claimed that the former team boss had unlawfully published certain images for personal financial gain and illegal profit. “Haas never gave permission for the use of our trademarks,” read an official statement.
Artistic Relevance: The Key to Victory
According to American law, Günther Steiner is allowed to use the images based on ‘artistic relevance’. “Steiner wants to describe his experiences as team boss of the Haas Formula 1 team – this necessarily requires mentioning the name Haas,” the judge explained. “Like many sports biographies, the book also contains photos of the relevant team, undoubtedly featuring the Haas brand name.”
More Legal Battles Ahead
While Günther Steiner has won this initial battle, there is another ongoing dispute between Haas and the Italian engineer. Steiner has previously sued his former employer for breach of contract, violation of local wage laws, and unauthorized use of his image. This case is still pending.
