I’ve just seen this item on Reuters come up on twitter regarding an attempt by FOM to get a trademark on the term ‘F1′. Now I realise it is nearly 2 years old, but the last couple of paragraphs did pique my interest:
Landau said the fact that the Formula One Group was the only organisation organising F1 races "does not mean that the public will perceive F1 as a trademark.
"It just means that currently it enjoys a monopoly on the races. However, if private owners of F1 cars race them on a friendly basis is that not an F1 race, if not on a commercial basis?"
I realised that this kind of tie-ins quite nicely with the recent quotes by Martin Whitmarsh on trying to return F1 to North America:
"Rather than leave it in the hands of a promoter, how do we develop the interest? How do we develop the excitement and take up of F1 in North America? Be it Ferrari, be it Daimler, or be it BMW. You look at all of the principle investors in F1; the vast majority of them would consider the US to be a significant market."
If that ruling still stands then could they quite conceivably have a non-championship F1 race in North America if Bernie doesn’t want to help organise it and still call it an ‘F1′ race? They could even maybe take in a couple of races in America and Canada and call it a ‘US F1 Championship Cup’ or something.
However I’m pretty sure that if FOTA really want to help organise races in North America again, and even stump up some cash themselves, then as long as there is any chance of FOM taking a profit from it then Bernie would welcome it with open arms.