GT500 Trademark Update

[sfm5]

Ridiculous how long this legal dispute between Denise Halicki & Shelby Trust has been going on! Looks like sanity prevailed.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221208006071/en/Shelby%E2%80%99s-Legal-Battle-Over-the-%E2%80%9CEleanor%E2%80%9D-Car-Is-Over.-Shelby-Won%21?fbclid=IwAR2JCMB9GsLK8MFhA0OG0Oa9Oq9FYpG8AZQN9IWJCCupKLCY3Md7tieN6hI

[Kent]

ok so that means you can call your build Eleanor or do you now need an license from shelby American?

[crossboss]

All it means Shelby Enterprises had better well paid attorneys. In my view, the "Eleanor" name from the 1974 film is a trademarked copyright. Halicki's original "Gone in Sixty Seconds" had used that name for the car. He, and now his wife are the rightful owners of that name/trademark. Just as is Shelby's 'GT-500' (or Ford's) trademark. So, what should come of it? In the real world, 'Eleanor' belongs to Halicki, and 'GT-500' to Ford/Shelby, period. However, the court said different. Shelby has no right to the name 'Eleanor' in my opinion.

[FL SAAC]

we have given all the
new Eleanors the 3H award hideous,  horrendous and horrible
Thank you very much

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Eleanor wasn't even a Shelby/GT500

Eleanor originated in the 1974 film: "Gone in 60 Seconds" made by H.B Toby Haliki. Eleanor is the only Ford Mustang to receive a star title credits in a movie. The original Eleanor was 1971 fastback cars restyled in 1973 for the film. This was painted on a pale yellow and the film gained cult status in the 70's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_(automobile)

[Bill]

What more needs to be said 


Bill

[Side-Oilers]

My Aunt Eleanor is happy that she can finally ignore all those letters from Halicki's lawyer demanding she change her name.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

It should be noted GT500 was never in question. It has been owned by Ford Motor Company since mid 1967.
The name Eleanor was the trademark of a movie character that happened to be a Mustang.
When Ford and Shelby went after the kit Cobra market it was on 2 fronts. First was Ford going after anyone using the Cobra name in association with their product. The second was Shelby who launched lawsuits based on the shape of the Cobra. Ford won all their suits and Shelby lost all his. Most just paid CS some money to use the Cobra name. Factory 5 decided to fight and won every time SA went after them for the roasters and coupe.
https://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/shelby-loses-lawsuit-against-factory-five-racing/

[FL SAAC]

My Aunt Eleanor is happy that she can finally ignore all those letters from Halicki's lawyer demanding she change her name.

LMAO  !

[Kent]

I think Edsel Ford his wife had the name Eleanor also so maybe it belongs to Ford 

[crossboss]

It should be noted GT500 was never in question. It has been owned by Ford Motor Company since mid 1967.
The name Eleanor was the trademark of a movie character that happened to be a Mustang.
When Ford and Shelby went after the kit Cobra market it was on 2 fronts. First was Ford going after anyone using the Cobra name in association with their product. The second was Shelby who launched lawsuits based on the shape of the Cobra. Ford won all their suits and Shelby lost all his. Most just paid CS some money to use the Cobra name. Factory 5 decided to fight and won every time SA went after them for the roasters and coupe.
https://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/shelby-loses-lawsuit-against-factory-five-racing/

This is the same as the musical instrument 'copyright' battle. As an example, some guitar makers in the late 1970's were reproducing Gibson Les-Pauls, and Fender Strats. Gibson sued saying copyright infringement. The court ruled only the headstock is trademarked, not the body. So, in essence Les-Paul, and Fender Srat 'bodies' are ok to sell. Only Gibson and Fender are allowed to use their famous labels on their headstocks.