By Andrew Warshaw
July 18 – German Formula One driver Nico Rosberg has been forced to ditch plans to wear a specially designed helmet in celebration of his country’s World Cup triumph after FIFA said an image of the trophy would breach intellectual property rights.
Rosberg hoped to wear the commemorative helmet for his home Grand Prix at Hockenheim this weekend but was told it infringes copyright.
“I would have loved to carry the trophy as a tribute to the guys, but I respect the legal situation,” he said.
Rosberg showed off the new helmet design earlier this week, tweeting it would be “my Hockenheim World Cup special edition helmet with the FIFA trophy.”
In a statement, FIFA said it was “obliged to take action against any unauthorised reproduction of its intellectual property in a commercial context”.
“We cannot allow a commercially branded helmet to feature the trophy as this would jeopardise the rights of our commercial affiliates.
“We appreciate Nico Rosberg’s desire to congratulate the German team and have therefore been in discussions with the Rosberg team to attempt to find a solution, whereby he is still able to show his support for Germany without using FIFA intellectual property in a commercial context.”
“All the things you have to think about?” Rosberg, a massive football fan who drives for the German Football Association sponsors Mercedes, was quoted as saying. “It’s amazing that even a trophy has its trademark, just sticking it on a helmet. It was a pity as it looked really cool with the trophy on top.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734791404labto1734791404ofdlr1734791404owedi1734791404sni@w1734791404ahsra1734791404w.wer1734791404dna1734791404