Force India sues Lotus F1 for breach of intellectual property
Force India are concerned about similarities between the VJM02 and Lotus T127 chassis
Wednesday, 02, Jun 2010 12:11
By Adam Leveridge.
The Force India formula one team has launched legal proceedings against the Lotus team, Mike Gascoyne and Italian windtunnel operators Aerolab for an alleged breach of intellectual property.
Concerns were raised by Force India about similarities between the design of their original 2009-spec VJM02 car and Lotus' T127 chassis when the new entrant released the first images of their windtunnel model at the end of last year.
And, in a statement released on Wednesday morning, Force India confirmed it had in fact instigated civil proceedings in the UK and Italy against Lotus, claiming the team has benefited from the use of its intellectual property when designing and building its inaugural F1 chassis.
"Force India believes that Lotus Racing, via its use of Aerolab and Fondtech facilities and data, has utilised and benefited from the use of Force India F1 Team's intellectual property, including components and tyres exclusively licensed by Bridgestone to the Force India F1 Team, on its wind tunnel model design for the current Lotus T127 chassis without permission from the Force India F1 Team," said Force India.
"Force India states these are very serious claims and therefore it would not be taking such action if it could not provide supportive evidence."
In November, Aerolab, who ran Force India's windtunnel operation until September 2009, revealed it intended to take the Silverstone-based outfit to court for what it called 'serious and persistent breaches of contract', after this alleged breach was raised by Vijay Mallya's team.
"It is quite unusual for us to comment on negative matters but we have been given no other choice but to make public the facts after press reports in recent days suggested that Aerolab has passed on information to parent company Fondtech which enjoys a close technical relationship with Lotus F1 Racing," said Aerolab's managing director Jean-Claude Migeot.
"These rumours are designed only to tarnish the company's reputation and professionalism and to divert attention away from the facts.
"The truth is that Aerolab is suing Force India for not fulfilling its obligations."
And Force India confirmed that the courts are addressing this case.
"Additionally Force India would like to clarify that any action between Aerolab and Force India for undue termination of contract is now being addressed by the courts," said Force India.
"Force India confirms it paid approximately one million euros in autumn 2009 to secure the payment claimed by Aerolab and it is now for the competent courts to decide whether, indeed, this outstanding amount should be paid to Aerolab given the seriousness of these current allegations."